Changes in Hayleys Group

Nirmala Gihan Wickremeratne, Deputy Chairman Hayleys Group will succeed Rajan Yatawara as Chairman effective January 10, 2007, on the retirement of the latter after over 40 years of service.

Wickremeratne, who joined Hayleys in 1971 was appointed to the Board in 1986, has been Chief Executive of Dipped Products Limited (DPL) and held overall responsibility for the Hayleys Group's Hand Protection sector since its inception.

Abeyakumar Mohan Pandithage will succeed Wickremeratne as Deputy Chairman. Pandithage joined Hayleys in 1969 and was appointed to the Board in 1998.

He has headed the Maritime Holdings Group (now Hayleys Advantis) since its inception and held overall responsibility tor the Transportation sector at Hayleys.

Wickremeratne holds a B.SC. degree from the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya.

He has chaired the Sri Lanka Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Rubber Products and served as a committee member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and as its representative on the National Labour Advisory Council.