Kelum Priyashantha is the visionary founder and driving force behind Ceylon Vanilla (Pvt) Ltd, a purpose, led enterprise committed to positioning Sri Lanka as a global origin for premium natural vanilla.

With academic grounding in Strategic Management and Leadership (UK) and Business Management, Kelum began his professional journey in the corporate insurance sector, where he gained deep exposure to financial systems, risk management, and structured growth strategies. However, guided by a larger purpose, he made a bold transition, leaving the corporate world to invest in the future of sustainable agriculture.

Recognizing vanilla as one of the world’s most valuable and in-demand crops, Kelum identified a unique national opportunity: to elevate “Ceylon Vanilla” to stand alongside globally respected origin brands such as Ceylon Tea and Ceylon Cinnamon.

Under his leadership, the company has embarked on large-scale cultivation initiatives, integrating own plantations with a strong farmer network, ensuring both quality excellence and community empowerment. His long-term vision is clear, to build "Ceylon Vanilla™" into a globally recognized premium export brand rooted in authenticity, sustainability, and Sri Lankan heritage.

Kelum’s leadership reflects a rare combination of entrepreneurial courage, national vision, and long-term value creation, bridging agriculture, export markets, and impact-driven business.

Kaushan Manawadu serves as the Chief Marketing Officer of Ceylon Vanilla (Pvt) Ltd, bringing a powerful blend of strategic marketing expertise, global business insight, and transformational leadership.

A Doctoral Candidate with an MBA (UK) and multiple internationally recognized professional affiliations, including Fellow Member of the Chartered Management Institute, Kaushan is widely regarded as a leading Management Consultant and Life & Executive Coach in Sri Lanka.

With over 15 years of experience across banking, finance, and insurance sectors, he has developed deep expertise in market intelligence, brand strategy, and business transformation. His impact extends beyond corporate roles, having successfully guided 50+ SMEs across Sri Lanka, India, Dubai, and Malaysia to scale their operations to national and international markets.

In academia, Kaushan contributes as a visiting faculty member at prestigious institutions including the Open University of Sri Lanka, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, and Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing, shaping the next generation of business leaders.

At Ceylon Vanilla™, he leads the global brand vision, crafting a premium positioning strategy that transforms vanilla from a commodity into a luxury origin product. His focus lies in building international market access, brand storytelling, and strategic partnerships, ensuring that Ceylon Vanilla™ earns its place among the world’s finest.

Sunil Amaradasa is a highly respected Agriculture Consultant with extensive expertise in vanilla cultivation, tea, and diversified high-value crops in Sri Lanka.

With decades of hands-on experience, Sunil has played a pivotal role in developing vanilla farming practices in the Gampola, Kandy region, transforming it into one of the country’s emerging hubs for quality vanilla production. His deep understanding of soil conditions, climate adaptation, plant management, and curing processes has directly contributed to improving both yield and quality standards among local farmers.

He has served as a resource person for the Department of Export Agriculture, sharing his expertise to strengthen Sri Lanka’s export-oriented agricultural sector. His knowledge has also been featured in several leading documentaries focusing on vanilla cultivation in Sri Lanka, further establishing his reputation as a thought leader in the field.

At Ceylon Vanilla (Pvt) Ltd, Sunil plays a critical role in ensuring that every stage of cultivation, from planting to harvesting and curing, meets the highest quality benchmarks required for international markets.

His work is not just technical, it is transformational. Through continuous knowledge-sharing and farmer engagement, he contributes to building a sustainable vanilla ecosystem that uplifts rural communities while maintaining global standards of excellence.