Gamika De Silva new SLIM President 2013/2014

Gamika De Silva has been appointed the new president of Sri Lankan Institute of Marketing (SLIM) for 2013/2014 at the recently concluded Annual general Meeting.

Prior to taking over the post as SLIM President, he has made a significant contribution serving the Institute in various capacities. He was elected an ExCo member in 2008 under the leadership of R M P Dayawansa, and served the institute in the capacities of Sub Committee Chairman for "Peoples' Awards" 2008, Project Chairman of SLIM "Brand Excellence" in 2009, Honorary Secretary in 2009 & 2010 and was Vice President in charge of events in 2011 & 2012.

Gamika De Silva is currently the Senior Manager Marketing for Post pay and Mobile Broadband at Etisalat Lanka (Pvt) Limited, he has experience in Brand Management, Product Management, Strategic Planning, retail promotions spanning over 12 years.

His exposure ranges from Banking, Retail, Insurance and Telecommunication. He has been an integral part of the Etisalat launch in Sri Lanka, handling post pay & Mobile Broadband categories.

A past pupil of Royal College, Colombo, Gamika first entered the field of Marketing in 1998, after completing his preliminary marketing studies with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), UK. Following this, he successfully completed an MBA degree from the University of Wales. He was conferred with 'Young Marketer of the Year' award at the 2nd CMO Asia awards in 2011 held in Singapore.

Commenting on his appointment as SLIM president, De Silva said: "I am deeply honoured and privileged to be the president of the national body for marketing in Sri Lanka. It is with great respect I salute all fore-fathers of the Institute and my previous Presidents, especially R M P Dayawansa, Saliya Weerasekera, Rohan Somawansa, Thushara Perera and Tilan Wijesekera whom I had the privilege of working as a member of their ExCo and council. Our institute has reached greater heights with a rich history over 40 years and my task for next 12 months has been made more challenging by the two immediate past presidents who have raised the bar of standards"

"My objective is to consolidate and reinvent to ensure that we achieve greater and more sustainable results. My intention is to add value to all the stakeholders and spheres, that is members, students, government and general public, marketing fraternity and also the staff of SLIM," he added.

Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing, the national body of marketers of Sri Lanka founded in 1970, is a member of the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka and of ESOMAR, the Federation of Marketing Research Industries. It is also a member of the Asia Marketing Federation, which is affiliated to the World Marketing Association.