Samantha Ranatunga is a seasoned business leader with extensive experience in various industries, most notably in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and corporate governance. He served as the Managing Director and CEO of CIC Holdings PLC, one of Sri Lanka's leading conglomerates, from 2010 to 2019. During his almost 30-year tenure at CIC, Samantha played a pivotal role in elevating the company to a leading position in the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors. His leadership was instrumental in the development of CIC's "seed to shelf" concept, which supports 20,000 farmer families by integrating their produce directly with consumers.

Samantha has also held significant roles outside of CIC. He was the Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce from 2015 to 2017 and served on the Board of Directors of Seylan Bank PLC for nine years, where he chaired several key committees including Risk, Human Resources, and Strategic Planning.

After leaving CIC, Samantha transitioned to the medical technology sector, taking on the role of CEO at RemediumOne Ltd., a pioneering clinical research company in Sri Lanka. He also holds the position of Chairman at HVA Foods PLC and Citrus PLC and chairs several other companies, including Agro Technology Spectrify AI Ltd and Agroworld Ltd. In addition, he has been involved in public service as the Chairman of the Agricultural Modernization Taskforce of the Presidential Secretariat.

Samantha’s academic credentials include a degree from the University of Delhi and a Master’s in Business Administration from the UK, complemented by studies in agricultural productivity systems across several countries.

His career is marked by a commitment to innovation, sustainable business practices, and leadership in both the corporate and public sectors.