Hayleys Fibre PLC, Sri Lanka’s leading manufacturer of coir fibre products and the flagship of the Hayleys Group’s Eco Solutions sector, announced the appointment of Ruwan Rajapakse as Managing Director with effect from 1 April 2026.
Rajapakse succeeds Rajeeve Goonetilleke, who retires from the Hayleys Fibre PLC Board on 31 March 2026.
An industry veteran with over 30 years of professional experience spanning global manufacturing, supply chain management, agriculture and trade, Rajapakse holds more than two decades of international exposure in senior leadership positions.
Most recently he served as Global Chief Production Officer and Member of the top management of the Jiffy Group, headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, a role in which he led global production, operations, and supply chain functions across multiple facilities in Europe, North America, and Asia.
Notably, his appointment marks a return to the Hayleys Group, where he previously served as Director/CEO of the Hayleys Agri Horticulture Sector and held senior leadership roles at Hayleys Advantis.
Rajapakse has also held senior positions at Maersk Line, with a focus on global trade strategy, logistics, and international market development.
He holds an MBA from the University of Colombo, a BSc from the University of Kelaniya, and is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA — Australia). Rajapakse is also a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt qualified in manufacturing and is an active contributor to several national and international business and export-related organisations.
About Hayleys Fibre PLC
Hayleys Fibre PLC is a leading global manufacturer of biodegradable coir fibre-based products, converting Sri Lanka’s coconut resource into a wide and versatile range of sustainable products spanning erosion control solutions, coir geotextiles, industrial fibre, mattress fibre, brushware, erosion control solutions, mattress fibre, floor coverings and other eco-friendly agriculture solutions.
The Company’s products are exported to markets across six continents, serving customers in agriculture, civil engineering and consumer goods sectors.