Irusha Palawatta has bagged Asia's Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Supply Chain Leadership

Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Kandy, Irusha Tennekoon Palawatta is an accomplished professional with a diverse and dynamic background.

Academically, Irusha earned a Bachelor's Special Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Peradeniya, graduating with Upper Second Class honors. His passion for furthering his knowledge led him to pursue a Master’s Degree in Supply Chain and Logistics Management from Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, where his thesis was published in the International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies.

Professionally, Irusha holds prestigious qualifications, including ACMA and CGMA designations from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA-UK), as well as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification from the Dr. Mikel J. Harry Six Sigma Management Institute -USA. During his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt project, he utilized the Six Sigma DMAIC approach to improve efficiency at the Fonterra powder plant. His expertise spans over several industries, with leadership roles in procurement, supply chain management, and logistics.

A former student of Trinity College Kandy, Irusha showed early promise in extracurricular activities, excelling in kickboxing and chess. He became a national-level chess champion, representing Sri Lanka in both World and Asian Championships, and served as the captain of the kickboxing team at the University of Peradeniya, where he was also the Central Province full-contact kickboxing champion. Irusha holds a black belt from the World Martial Arts Association in kickboxing. In addition to these achievements, he participated in athletics and rugby as well.

In his current position as Head of Supply Chain at Ansell Textiles Lanka, Irusha oversees planning, procurement, warehousing, and logistics. He manages a team of 74 members in this role. He has successfully driven the implementation of Microsoft D365 across the supply chain and has been instrumental in achieving significant inventory reductions, process improvements, and savings across the value chain.

Prior to his current role, Irusha served as Manager of Procurement at Fonterra Brands Lanka, where his innovative sourcing strategies garnered global recognition and yielded substantial cost savings. He also spearheaded the procurement for 32 major projects. Additionally, he developed cost models for all key raw materials and packing materials, which were highly appreciated by Fonterra management.

At Midas Safety, as Head of Supply Chain, Irusha set new OTIF (On Time In Full) records and improved operational efficiencies through strategic initiatives, including the development of Material Requirements Planning functions in SAP. His leadership contributed to optimizing inventory and significantly reducing costs through sourcing strategies such as Ariba. Irusha was the first in Midas Sri Lanka to obtain expert level in Ariba sourcing, and he made significant contributions to improve the working capital cycle of Midas. He also headed customer coordination and communication for Midas Sri Lanka WWL. Earlier in his career, he worked for companies such as Brandix and Senok.

Throughout his career, Irusha has been celebrated for his contributions. He received Outstanding Employee recognition at Midas Safety for two consecutive years and was honored as a Differential Impact Performer at Fonterra. At Ansell, he was recognized as a High Impact Performer and has received accolades at the National Supply Chain Excellence Awards in both Individual category and Large scale manufacturing Organization category. It was highly appreciated, how he led his Supply Chain Team at Ansell Textiles Lanka to achieve 2nd runners-up in the National Supply Chain Excellence Awards, competing with top multinational companies.

Irusha’s commitment extends beyond his professional life. He is actively involved in mentoring future leaders and holds memberships in notable professional bodies, including the Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Additionally, he is heavily engaged in community projects to improve living standards for the wider community.

In recognition of his exceptional achievements, Irusha was honored with the prestigious "Asia’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Supply Chain Leadership" by the Asia Awards, powered by the World Research Congress.

With a steadfast dedication to innovation and excellence, Irusha Tennekoon Palawatta continues to drive transformative changes in organizations, making a lasting impact within the organizations he serves and the industry at large.