CEO & Board of Directors

The Board of Management

Mr. Mahen Thambiah

With an intense passion for automobiles, Mr. Mahen Thambiah after returning from the United Kingdom with a degree in Business Administration, founded Carplan Limited, which held several franchises before it obtained the Kia franchise and introduced the brand to Sri Lanka in 1996.

He started motor racing at the age of 18, and went on to represent Sri Lanka in international motor racing.

The brand was thus promoted significantly in the local motor racing arena very successfully which helped substantially in building the brand.

With an in-depth knowledge of the automobile industry, his career spans over 35 years and is one of the most experienced personalities in the trade in Sri Lanka.

In order for the market to better understand the brand and its rapidly expanding product portfolio, together with Kia Motors, he incorporated Kia Motors (Lanka) Limited as the distributor with Carplan as a subsidiary for the metropolis and other appointed dealerships island wide, thus setting the infrastructure for the brands growth. 

His vision saw a rapid growth of Kia Automobiles across the Island establishing itself as one of the most sort after brands in the country.

His unwavering passion and drive continues to inspire a team preparing to meet the changes of the automobile industry moving towards electric and autonomous vehicles with innovation and excellence within the company and its subsidiaries.

Mr. Andrew Perera

Mr. Andrew Perera, the Managing Director of Kia Sri Lanka, is a seasoned professional with a strong track record in managing diverse areas in the automotive and apparel industries. With over 13 years of experience in the automobile sector, he is a dynamic leader who brings his expertise in management and operations which is invaluable to the organization.

As an ardent automobile enthusiast with a passion for innovation, Mr Perera inspires the team to strive towards excellence and embrace the movement that drives the automotive industry forward. Currently he is the Vice Chairman of the Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) which is affiliated with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Before his move to Kia in 2013, Mr Perera was responsible for the overall operations of two automotive brands, Jaguar and Porsche, as Group General Manager at IWS Holdings. He has also held several key positions at MAS Holdings Pvt Ltd., working for global brands such as Victoria’s Secret in the areas of Design, Merchandising, and Business Analyst. 

Mr Perera holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Business Management from the University of Wales, an MBA from the University of Leicester, and has received executive education from the National University of Singapore (NUS) focused on Strategic Management. 

In addition to his professional achievements, he is an accomplished sportsman who has represented his country and school as a cricketer. His passion for sports reflects his dedication to teamwork and his belief in pushing oneself to reach new heights. Presently, he serves as the Chairman of the Cricket Advisory Committee at Royal College and as an executive member of the Games Council for the school.

Mr. Ranil Pathirana

Mr. Ranil Pathirana has extensive experience in finance and management in financial, apparel, and energy sectors.

He serves as a Director of the Hirdaramani Group which includes Apparel, Leisure, and Investment Holding Companies. He is also the Managing Director for Hirdaramani International Exports (Pvt) Ltd. The Hirdaramani Group has Apparel Manufacturing Facilities across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Ethiopia.

He also serves on the Boards of several listed entities.

Mr. Ranil Pathirana is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK (FCMA- UK) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Managing Director's Message

Kia Sri Lanka, driving sustainable mobility locally.

"Over the last three decades, Kia has established itself as one of the leading automotive brands in the country and remained committed to delivering innovative, high-quality vehicles that meet the needs of its customers while also staying at the forefront of cutting-edge design.

Our operations in Sri Lanka have always aligned with Kia's global aspirations and philosophy. As designers of movement, Kia is focused on creating sustainable mobility solutions that inspire and innovate.

Despite recent challenges such as the import ban, our promise to the brand continues, and we have made significant investments in after-sales to ensure we offer our clientele the best services at all times. Our priority has consistently been customer satisfaction, and we persist in making upgrades to our facilities and adapting to the times to stay relevant. We introduced the Kia Mobile app during the height of the pandemic to ensure customers enjoy easy access to our services, and recently opened a Car Care Centre in Narahenpita- Colombo 5 to provide a convenient location for regular service needs. These demonstrate our dedication to offer the best possible services to our valued customers.

Mr Andrew Perera the Kia Managing Director

Andrew Perera

Managing Director, Kia Sri Lanka.

Managing Director's Message

Mr Andrew Perera the Kia Managing Director

Kia Sri Lanka, driving sustainable mobility locally.

"Over the last three decades, Kia has established itself as one of the leading automotive brands in the country and remained committed to delivering innovative, high-quality vehicles that meet the needs of its customers while also staying at the forefront of cutting-edge design.

Our operations in Sri Lanka have always aligned with Kia's global aspirations and philosophy. As designers of movement, Kia is focused on creating sustainable mobility solutions that inspire and innovate.

Despite recent challenges such as the import ban, our promise to the brand continues, and we have made significant investments in after-sales to ensure we offer our clientele the best services at all times. Our priority has consistently been customer satisfaction, and we persist in making upgrades to our facilities and adapting to the times to stay relevant. We introduced the Kia Mobile app during the height of the pandemic to ensure customers enjoy easy access to our services, and recently opened a Car Care Centre in Narahenpita- Colombo 5 to provide a convenient location for regular service needs. These demonstrate our dedication to offer the best possible services to our valued customers.

An aerial view of a Kia SUV driving in a forest road

We are also committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility with initiatives such as implementing renewable energy to power our facilities, reducing plastic use, adopting a water recycling system for washing vehicles to conserve water, and investing in the best water treatment practices to reduce environmental impact. Kia Sri Lanka is also ready to support the growing trend toward electrification by building infrastructure that will enable us to promote and import electric vehicles in the near future.

Looking to the future, we remain determined to offer world-class services using technology and staying current in the digital space. As Kia moves towards electrification, we will continue to invest in this area and support policymakers to provide the necessary data and information to move the country forward.

I am proud to say that our flagship products, such as the Sorento and Sportage, have been well-received in the market, and our state-of-the-art Logistic centre in Malabe is a testament to our dedication to the brand and its customers. The expansion of our dealer network too reflects the popularity of the brand among Sri Lankans.

We are excited about the future of Kia in Sri Lanka. Electric vehicles are the way forward, and Kia is already at the forefront with a diverse lineup that includes award-winning models such as the EV6 and EV9. We will persevere in this trajectory and follow Kia's global direction to offer cutting-edge technology and design that meet the needs of our customers and the planet.

Thank you for choosing Kia. We look forward to driving ahead with you."

Andrew Perera

Managing Director, Kia Sri Lanka.

 

A New blue color Kia SUV with a sunset in a mountain area