People
About Us
SLIDF brings together people interested in practical cooperation,
development, trade, investment, education, culture, and Sri Lanka Italy relations.
Founder and Members
People involved in SLIDF
Lahiru Thilakarathna
Founder and Chief Convener, SLIDF
International Lawyer | Development Economist | Entrepreneur | Investor and Facilitator
Lahiru is based between Rome, Italy and Sri Lanka. He is the Founder and Chief Convener of the Sri Lanka Italy Development Forum, established to support practical cooperation between institutions, businesses, professionals, investors, and communities connected to both countries.
He is an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and holds a Master’s in Development Economics and International Cooperation from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, a Master of Laws from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of London.
His work focuses on international law, development economics, food and agriculture, trade, investment, education, governance, and public-private cooperation. He has experience in public law, human rights, corporate law, compliance, contracts, policy research, food security, agrifood systems, water governance, and emergency response.
Lahiru has a strong interest in public and private investment, including public markets, private equity, SME growth, agribusiness investment, value-chain development, and strategic partnerships. He connects legal, economic, financial, business, and policy perspectives to identify practical opportunities for growth, trade, and cooperation.
He also has a background in entrepreneurship and business operations, particularly in sustainable agriculture, food products, exports, tea, coffee, and SME development. He has contributed to export and innovation-led initiatives recognised with a Presidential Export Award, National Innovation Award, Industrial Excellence Award, and multiple National Export Awards.
Through SLIDF, Lahiru aims to support meaningful Sri Lanka–Italy cooperation in trade, investment, education, culture, agriculture, professional exchange, public-private collaboration, and community development.
Founder and Chief Convener
Rande Sarada Goonatilleke
Founding Member and Counsel, SLIDF
Technology | Business Development | Sri Lankan Community Engagement
Rande is a Founding Member and Counsel of the Sri Lanka Italy Development Forum, advising SLIDF on technology, business development, digital services, and Sri Lankan community engagement in Italy.
He is an MBA graduate and an experienced ICT and telecommunications professional with over 13 years of experience in product management, mobile services, digital services, and business strategy. His professional background spans the Italian, UK, and Sri Lankan markets.
His work has focused on product development, KPI management, data analysis, market research, customer acquisition, revenue growth, commercial strategy, and customer engagement. He has also applied marketing and business management experience across multiple sectors.
Rande is currently the President of the Sri Lanka Association in Italy, where he contributes to strengthening cultural, social, professional, and economic ties between Sri Lanka and Italy.
Fluent in Italian, English, Sinhala, and Hindi, he brings strong multicultural understanding, international market experience, and community leadership to SLIDF’s work.
Founding Member and Counsel
Ashen Munasinghe
Founding Member and Counsel, SLIDF
Logistics | Business Development | Italian Corporate Engagement
Ashen is a Founding Member and Counsel of the Sri Lanka Italy Development Forum, advising SLIDF on logistics, business development, warehouse transformation, and Italian corporate engagement.
He is a logistics and warehouse transformation professional with over 12 years of international experience across Italy, the UK, Europe, and the USA. His work covers warehousing programs, automation, WMS/WCS implementation, logistics operating models, process standardization, KPI governance, and cross-country coordination.
Ashen has worked across retail, luxury, technology, e-commerce, telecommunications, and logistics environments, coordinating teams and stakeholders across operations, IT, engineering, finance, legal, HSE, construction, and external partnerships.
His experience includes large-scale logistics expansion, greenfield automation programs, international logistics pipeline development, and warehouse standardization across multiple countries, including projects connected to major luxury, retail, telecommunications, and e-commerce operators.
He holds an Executive MBA from LUISS Business School, completed on a full scholarship. He was also selected for Poste Italiane’s national innovation program and appointed as a 2026 Ambassador.
Through SLIDF, Ashen brings practical experience in logistics, operational transformation, business development, and corporate engagement to support trade, investment, and cooperation between Sri Lanka and Italy.
Founding Member and Counsel