Our Team
Dr. Austin Au
Managing Director
Dr. Austin Au was drawn to the textile manufacturing and apparel industry from the very beginning of his professional career. While completing his tertiary education at University, he received a comprehensive academic background in textiles. Furthermore, at the time (the mid-1980’s), the textile industry was a major player in the economy of Hong Kong — his home country. It is as a result of these factors that he chose textiles as his area of expertise. Dr. Austin’s academic qualifications specific to the industry include a Higher Diploma in Textile Chemistry gained in the year 1985 from HK Polytechnic and, subsequently, an MSc and a Ph.D. from the University of Leeds completed in 1989 and 1996, respectively. He has persisted with the industry for as long as he has due to the simple reason that he enjoys his career immensely. In his eyes, Ocean Lanka is unique among other textile manufacturers due to its people and the culture that is evident across the organization. It is multicultural in nature and fosters principles of inclusion at all times. Dr. Austin wishes to continue setting the direction of Ocean Lanka along with his expert-team to ensure that the company remains the preferred knitted fabric supplier in the region.
Mr. Saman Bandara
AGM – Finance & IT
First drawn to the textile manufacturing and apparel industry due to its fast-paced and dynamic nature, Mr. Bandara proudly states that it is a leading contributor towards the country’s national income. Upon completing a Bachelor of Science (Special) Degree in Accountancy & Financial Management, he commenced working in the areas of Finance and Auditing. Subsequently, he fulfilled the requirements necessary to gain the qualification of Member of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ACA). Of his 16 years of experience in Finance, 12 have been in manufacturing companies catering to the export market, including his 7 years at Ocean Lanka so far. He relishes being a part of the textile manufacturing and apparel industry due to the rapid growth it consistently experiences, despite the lulls, it displays at certain times. Mr. Bandara enjoys the challenges he has to overcome as a Finance professional in this industry, and he strongly feels that it adds much value to his career every single day. He believes that the good reputation that Ocean Lanka has built in the industry is attributable to, not only, the quality of its work but also the technical know-how of fabrics that it has consistently provided to peers in the industry, other mills, and the apparel sector as a whole. As an individual, Mr. Bandara would like to progress further as a leading professional in the areas of Finance and Operations, within the corporate sphere.
Ms. Indrani Narampanawa
Senior Manager – HR & Administration
Indrani Narampanawa is a dynamic HR practitioner with over 20 years’ experience working in a variety of industries. Passionate about the people who bring organisations to life, Indrani is known for effectively balancing big picture thinking and hands-on execution to effectively support rapid business growth. She holds an MBA from the Mahatma Gandhi University and has held senior HR roles at Ceyline Shipping and Pearson Lanka. Her areas of expertise include: administration, employee wellness & safety, training & development, employee recognition, compensation & performance management. She has a track record in the areas of transformational leadership and managing change with proven success in executive recruitment. Indrani is confident that, with an equitable and inclusive culture that drives diversity and a belief for continuous improvement, Ocean Lanka will consolidate a prominent position in the textile market segments in which it competes.
Mr. Nowzad Abdullah
AGM – Planning & Management System Diagnosis
Mr. Abdullah, first, considered joining the textile manufacturing and apparel industry due to its importance within the Sri Lankan economy and, also, the country’s industry-competitiveness globally. He currently holds, both, a Bachelor of Science in Textile and Technology as well as a Master of Business Administration degree. He has remained loyal to the textile manufacturing and apparel industry due to its rewarding nature in terms of, both, personal growth and finances. Mr. Abdullah believes that Ocean Lanka stands tall in the industry, well above its competitors, due to the multicultural makeup of the company as well as its reputation as a top-notch manufacturer of textiles with a host of reputed partners. He wishes to draw upon his 22 years of experience in the industry to serve as an effective team leader and contribute positively to textile manufacturing in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Ruwan Mudalpath
AGM – Sales & Marketing
From a very early stage in his professional career, Mr. Mudalpath had displayed a strong passion for textiles, fashion and the apparel industry as a whole. This is what first prompted him to work in the industry and he has remained, thereafter, due to the dynamic nature of fashion, changing trends worldwide, the challenges faced, new areas of interest, and the scale of product innovation. He, thoroughly, relishes the opportunities for learning that the industry provides. In terms of his academic qualifications in the areas of Sales and Marketing, Mr. Mudalpath has completed a Professional Post-Graduate Diploma in Marketing (CIM UK) as well as a Diploma in Business Management. Furthermore, he fulfilled the requirements necessary to gain the qualification of Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK). In total, he has 24 years of experience in the apparel and textile industry, including hands-on experience in handling export-based Marketing, Business Development, and Operations. What sets Ocean Lanka apart, Mr. Mudalpath believes, is its reputation as an established yet flexible supplier of textiles who can handle quick turnaround times. Also, he says that Ocean Lanka has the firm advantage of being able to provide a range of weft-knit solutions to the market: solids, prints, and yarn dyeing. Mr. Mudalpath wishes to, further, strengthen Ocean Lanka’s name as the best weft-knit solutions provider in the region.
Mr. Shisheng Huang
AGM – Production
Huang Shisheng was drawn to the textile manufacturing and apparel industry from the very beginning of his professional career. While completing his education at Guangdong Polytechnic, he received a comprehensive academic background in textiles. He has persisted with the industry for as long as he has due to the simple reason that he enjoys his career immensely. In his eyes, Ocean Lanka is unique among other textile manufacturers due to its people and the culture that is evident across the organization. It is multicultural in nature and fosters principles of inclusion at all times. Huang Shisheng wishes to continue setting the direction of Ocean Lanka along with his expert-team to ensure that the company remains the preferred knitted fabric supplier in the region.
