Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the fourth time on 21st August 2015. He is the Leader of the United National Party (UNP), Sri Lanka’s largest political party, which is a constituent member of the National Unity Government led by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena.

Ranil Wickremesinghe was first appointed as the Prime Minister from 1993 – 1994 after the assassination of President Ranasinghe Premadasa. He was again elected as the Prime Minister from 2001 – 2004 when the United National Front Government won the general elections in 2001.

A lawyer by profession, Prime Minister Ranil was elected to Parliament in 1977 at the age of 28, having worked in the Youth League of the UNP from his university days. As the youngest Minister in Sri Lanka at the time, he held the post of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs under President Jayewardene. Soon after, in recognition of his exceptional talents and unique capacity for work, he was appointed to the Cabinet as the Minister of Youth Affairs and Employment. Later on, he was given the portfolio of Education. Then in 1989, as a seasoned legislator, he was made the Leader of the House under President Premadasa. He also served as the Minister of Industries, Science and Technology.

From 1977 to 1994, during the seventeen years that the UNP was in power yet again, Prime Minister Ranil,made a crucial impact on the development of the country. He is still considered to be the best Education Minister of the country due to the radical educational reforms he initiated in the 1980s, aimed at the qualitative improvement of school education (with a special focus on English, Technology and Computer skills) and the Education Administrative Service. He energised the young people in Sri Lanka with creative, motivational as well as skill development programs through youth clubs (Yovun Samajas) and youth camps (Yovunpuras).

Later on, as the Minister of Industries, Science and Technology, he was responsible for Sri Lanka’s second round of economic liberalisation that commenced in 1989 with focus on financial de-regularisation and industrial promotion in rural areas through infrastructure development and the institution of industrial estates. As the MP for Biyagama, he dramatically developed his electorate to become a modern model suburb with brand new carpeted roads, electrification schemes, water and sanitation projects, schools, community centres and other infrastructure inputs. He also established the Biyagama Free Trade Zone to provide employment for thousands of young men and women in a range of industries.

In 1993 after the untimely demise of President Premadasa, Prime Minister Ranil was appointed Prime Minister during the presidency of D. B. Wijetunge. Eveready for a challenge, the young Prime Minister rose to the responsibility of high office and he has been credited for establishing law, order and stability in the country at the crucial juncture. During the short period, the country recorded the highest level of economic growth for the decade.

After the UNP was voted out in 1994, Prime Minister Ranil became the Leader of the United National Party and the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. Under his leadership, the UNP undertook extensive restructuring at institutional and grassroots levels and further democratised the Party to represent a more equitable balance in terms of ethnicity, gender and youth.

In 2001, he led his party back to power and was sworn in as Prime Minister once again. In spite of the fact that the President was from the opposing party who could exercise full executive powers and was a strong opposition in Parliament, Prime Minister Ranil’s most significant achievements were to restore full-time electricity, rejuvenate the ailing economy, break down the many ethnic barriers in the country, bring the warring LTTE to the negotiating table for peace talks, and galvanise the goodwill and financial support of the international community for Sri Lanka.

Outside of politics, Prime Minister Ranil is the Chair of the Dhayakasabha of one of Sri Lanka’s historic temples, the Kelaniya Vihara and a dhayakaya of Gangaramaya, Walukaramaya and the Weragodalla (Sedawatte) temples. He has written and spoken widely on Sri Lankan history, Buddhism and world politics.

Sevket Can Tulumen received his BA in Civil Engineering from Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey and his MA Degree in Civil Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, USA in 1988.

His experience includes being a Partner for Tulka Construction and Engineering Company and owner of Tulpa Marketing and Trade Company Ltd.

He is currently a Member of the Board and Chairman of Foreign Relations Committee for MUSİAD Businessmen Association in Turkey. He is also a Member of the Auditing Board for Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, ITO.

Dr Adnan Chilwan is a leading authority in the field of Islamic banking & finance and credited as a pioneer of change and innovation. With a career spanning nearly two decades with both reputed conventional and Islamic banks in the Gulf region, he currently serves as the Group Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Islamic Bank, the world’s first Islamic bank and the largest Islamic bank in UAE.

With solid repute in the industry, he has been recognised by key organisations for his efforts in driving the globalisation of Islamic finance, such as Forbes, for three consecutive years in the top 10 of the Top Indian Leaders in the Arab World. He is also ranked 6th amongst the top 100 CEOs in the GCC region at the renowned Top CEO 2016 awards and awarded the exclusive “Best Strategic Vision” title by Banker Middle East Industry Awards 2016, as well as the privileged “Banking Innovation” Award at the Indian Innovation Awards 2015.

Dr Chilwan has a PhD, an MBA in Marketing, and a postgraduate degree in Islamic Banking & Insurance. He is also a Certified Islamic Banker (CeIB), and an Associate Fellow Member in the Islamic Finance Professionals Board.

Sandiaga S. Uno, is one of Indonesia’s most prominent young entrepreneurs and is active in the Indonesian business community. He is the co-founder of PT Saratoga Investama Sedaya Tbk and served as a President Director 2004 – 2015. He has led the investment firm to have a solid track record of profitable investments across key sectors of the Indonesian economy.

Sandiaga is a Chairman of Indonesia Association of Traditional Market Merchant, Chairman of Indonesia Swimming Federation and Vice Chairman of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Cooperatives and Creative Economy of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Public Listed Company Association. He served as a Chairman of the Indonesia Forum Foundation (2013 – 2015) and Indonesian Economic Committee as a member (2010-2014) and the Chairman of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (2005-2008).

Sandiaga holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Summa Cum Laude) from the Wichita State University and an MBA from George Washington University. He is married with three children.

Azran is currently the CEO of iflix in Malaysia, and its Group COO – a disruptive internet television subscription video-on-demand service that was launched in May 2015 and now operates across Southeast Asia and is scaling to emerging markets in other regions. iflix aims to radically change how entertainment content is delivered to consumers in emerging markets, and how to address the threat of piracy.

He previously pioneered the long-haul, low-cost airline model as the founding CEO of AirAsia X, leading the growth from start-up to US$1 billion in revenue and a public-listing in six years, breaking many low-cost airline industry conventions and introducing innovations such as flatbed business class seats, fly-thru transfers, quiet zone and seating options, while achieving the world’s lowest unit operating cost and industry-leading technical reliability.

Azran held positions as Senior Director of Business Development at Astro All Asia Networks, SVP of Business Transformation at the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, and Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company. He currently Chairs the Advisory Board of the Asia Business Centre at Curtin University, Chairs the Malaysia Chapter of YPO, and mentors high-growth companies for Endeavor.

He holds a Masters degree in Management Science & Engineering and a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, both from Stanford University.

Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane was born in Makgoebaskloof and grew up in Ga-Makanye Village in the Limpopo province. During the 1980s, she was an active member of the United Democratic Front and served in various structures of the Mass Democratic Movement and the African National Congress’ (ANC) underground structures.

After the unbanning of the ANC in 1990, she served the party in various structures, including the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) and actively participated in the relaunch of the ANCWL in the country.
She served as the Chairperson of the ANCWL in Limpopo and as member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the organisation from 1992 to 1995.

Ms Nkoana-Mashabane was elected as a Member of Parliament from 1994 to 1995. In 1995, she was appointed High Commissioner to Malaysia, servicing the Philippines and Brunei (1995 to 1999).
From 1999 to 2005, she was appointed as High Commissioner to India, servicing Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal.

She was a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the NWC of the ANCWL, as well as the Deputy Secretary-General of the ANC in Limpopo from 2004 to 2008.
In 2005, she was appointed Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Limpopo’s Department of Government and Housing. During her term, the department won the National Govan Mbeki Housing Award for “Best Provincial Housing Department in South Africa, 2008”.
Ms Nkoana-Mashabane was named Newsmaker of the Year for 2008 by the Polokwane Chamber of Business.

The department also won seven other awards, including “The department doing the most to accelerate service delivery”. Minister Nkoana-Mashabane was elected as a member of the ANC NEC and NWC in 2007. She was also the Provincial Convener of the Progressive Women’s Movement in Limpopo in 2007.
On 11 May 2009, she was appointed as the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation during which she served as a member on the 2010 Soccer World Cup Local Organising Committee, presided over the historic United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP17/CMP7) in Durban as President and was a key lobbyist for South Africa’s inclusion as a member of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) formation (2011).

She was also lead campaigner for the election of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma as Chair of the African Union Commission – a first for Africa (2012).
She was sworn in for a second term as Minister of International Relations and Cooperation on 26 May 2014. She is currently a member of the ANC NEC and NWC.
In 2015, Ms Nkoana-Mashabane was elected as the Treasurer General of the ANCWL. She also serves in the league’s NEC and NWC.

As South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Nkoana-Mashabane is entrusted with the formulation, promotion and execution of South Africa’s foreign policy, taking overall responsibility for all aspects of South Africa’s international relations in consultation with the President.
She leads one of the biggest contingents of diplomats, with 125 diplomatic missions in 107 countries located in all corners of the world.

AHM Mustafa Kamal is a reputed Chartered Accountant who got involved in politics from his student life and had been associated with active student politics. He served his locality as a leading organiser of Awami League during the 6 point movement of 1966, mass upsurge of 1969 and the historic 1970 election period.

In 1996, he became Member of Parliament of Comilla-9 constitutional seat on the Awami League nomination. During this period, he was a Member of the Public Accounts Committee, Board of Investment, Privatisation Commission, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance Ministry and Chittagong University Senate.

Since 2004 he has been included in the Awami League Central Committee. Simultaneously, he has served as the Convener of Comilla District Awami League since 2006. He is currently serving as the Finance and Planning Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League.

Mr Kamal was elected MP for the second time from Comilla -10 seat in 2008 parliament election as an Awami League candidate. He held the post of the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance Ministry during 2009-2013 period.

He also served as President for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) (2009 – 2013). During his tenure World Cup Cricket was arranged in Bangladesh in 2011 with worldwide acclamation. The inaugural ceremony of this event (17th February 2011) secured 2nd position in the world ranking.

Mr Kamal had served as the President of International Cricket Council (ICC) from 2014-2015. Earlier, he was the Vice-President of ICC, President of ICC Audit Committee and the President of Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

Mr Kamal was elected the Member of Parliament for the 3rd time contesting from Comilla-10 seat on Awami League nomination in January 5, 2014 election. He was sworn in as a Cabinet Minister of the Government of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh and holding the office of the Ministry of Planning since January 12, 2014.

He is a law graduate, and holds a degree in Commerce and a Masters in Accounting from Dhaka University.

Elhadj As Sy has more than 25 years of experience in leadership roles in the humanitarian sector. Before joining the IFRC in 2014, he was UNICEF’s Director of Partnerships and Resource Development in New York. He has also served as the UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa and Global Emergency Coordinator for the Horn of Africa.

From 2005 to 2008, Elhadj was the Director of the HIV/AIDS Practice with the United Nations Development Programme in New York. He also held senior positions with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and UNAIDS. From 1988 to 1997, he was the Director of Health and Development Programmes with Environment and Development Action in the Third World in Dakar, Senegal.

Elhadj holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Human Sciences from the University of Dakar and a Master’s degree in Arts and Germanistik from the University of Graz, and graduated from the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna. He was also awarded a post graduate diploma in Education from the Ecole normale superieure in Dakar. He speaks English, French, German and is a national of Senegal.