Suresh Kumar Shah
Contents
Background
Suresh Kumar Shah was appointed as the Chairman of Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC (CTC) on 1st February 2022.[1] He is a well-known businessman and the founding Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lion Brewery PLC in 1996.[2]Lion Brewery PLC is a Sri Lankan company that trades its flagship beer brand ‘Lion’ and, also Carlsberg beer in Sri Lanka under a license from Carlsberg International. Lion Brewery PLC and Ceylon Beverage Holdings PLC are the subsidiaries of Carson Cumberbatch PLC. [3] Suresh Kumar Shah was educated at the Royal College, Colombo and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka.[4]
Government Positions Held
- Head, State-owned enterprise (SOE) restructuring unit – September 2022 to present [5]
- Member, National Salaries and Cadre Commission – March 2016 [6][7]
- Commissioner, Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka – February 2015 to July 2018[5][8][9]
- Council Member, University of Moratuwa – April 2015 to April 2018[9]
- Member, Monetary Policy Consultative Committee of Central Bank of Sri Lanka – March 2017 to May 2020 [4]
Other Positions Held
- Chairman, Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC (CTC) – 1 February 2022 to present [1][10]
- Founding Chairman, Providore shop – October 2021 to present [11]
- Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Lion Brewery PLC – June 1991 to June 2021[4][9]
- CEO and Executive Director, Ceylon Beverage Holdings PLC – June 1991 to 30 June 2021 [9][6][12][13]
- Executive Director, Carson Cumberbatch PLC – April 2002 to present [4]
- Director, Bukit Darah PLC – July 2018 to present [4][9]
- Director, Hemas Manufacturing (Pvt) Ltd – January 2021 to present [4]
- Director, Sri Lanka Business Development Centre-Time period is not available in public domain [9]
- Chief Finance Officer, United Motors Lanka Ltd – 1990 to 1991[4][6]
- Chief Finance Officer, Lankem Ceylon PLC – 1986 to 1990 [4][6]
- Chairman, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce – 2013 to June 2015 [9][5][4]
- Vice President, Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry – from July 2010 (period of end is not available in public domain) [9][6][14]
- Vice President/Council member, The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon- Time period is not available in public domain [5][6]
- Vice President/ Member, Sri Lanka Institute of Directors – from 2019 (period of end is not available in public domain) [9] [14]
- Member, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka - Time period is not available in public domain[9][6]
- Member, Industrial Association of Sri Lanka - Time period is not available in public domain[6]
Links to the tobacco industry
- Shah is the Chairman of Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC (CTC) with the effect from 1st February 2022. [1]
Advocating against the tobacco and alcohol advertisement bans
In 1999, Shah advocated against the proposed tobacco and alcohol advertising ban in media as the CEO of Lion Brewery PLC.[15]
Acting as the CEO of two alcohol companies
Shah held the position of CEO in Lion Brewery PLC and in Ceylon Beverage Holdings PLC from June 1991 to 30th June 2021 simultaneously.[2][9][6] Ceylon Beverage Holdings PLC identifies itself as “an investment holding company” on their website. They own the local beer brand ‘Lion’ and a 50.99% stake of the Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC. Both the companies are subsidiaries of Carson Cumberbatch PLC.[3]
Criticising the government’s alcohol policies
In 2012, Shah as the CEO of Ceylon Beverage Holdings PLC, made a statement criticising alcohol policy of the government in their annual report 2012.[16]
TobaccoUnmasked Resources
The local language translations
 |
 |
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Morning. CTC appoints Suresh Shah as Chairman, 17 February 2021, accessed December 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC. Annual report 2020/21, 2021, accessed January 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Carson Cumberbatch PLC. Beverage, undated, accessed December 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 LinkedIn. Suresh Shah, undated, accessed December 2022
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 I Gamage. Suresh Shah to head proposed SOE restructuring Unit, Ceylon Today, 10 September 2022, accessed December 2022
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 Markets. Suresh Kumar Shah, 2022, accessed December 2022
- ↑ The Sunday Times. Sweeping public sector reforms coming, 6 March 2016, accessed December 2022
- ↑ Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka. Members of the Commission, 2022, accessed December 2022
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 The Wall Street Journal. Suresh Kumar Shah 2018, accessed December 2022
- ↑ Ceylon Tobacco Company. Our Leadership, undated, accessed December 2022
- ↑ daily FT. Suresh Shah appointed Chairman of Providore.shop, 13 October 2021, accessed December 2022
- ↑ Market Screener. Ceylon Beverage Holdings PLC Announces Resignation of Suresh Kumar Shah as Executive Director with Effect from June 30, 2021, 28 June 2021, accessed December 2022
- ↑ Ceylon Beverage Holdings PLC. Annual Report 2020/2021, 2021, accessed December 2022
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Daily News. CACCI appoints Shah Vice President, 12 July 2010, accessed December 2022
- ↑ F Samath. HEALTH-SRI LANKA: Rights Concern Stalls Tobacco, Alcohol Ad Ban, Inter Press Service, 19 February 1999, accessed December 2022
- ↑ Ceylon Beverage Holdings PLC. Annual Report 2011-2012, 2012, accessed December 2022
