Survey Research Lanka shifts gears into overdrive with a new CEO
Survey Research Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd was established as an independent marketing and social research consultancy 29 years ago.
Despite many lucrative and tempting offers to partner with multi-national and regional giants, the company refused to take the predictable and easy path to success.
Survey Research Lanka (Popularly known as SRL) enters it’s third decade having earned a reputation as a totally independent, fullservice research agency in Sri Lanka which possesses the necessary tried-and-tested skill sets responsible for designing, implementing and delivering innovative home grown, commercial and social marketing information systems and solutions on time.
According to Executive Chairman Neel de Silva, the growth and development of SRL was (and continues to be) driven by two credos: ‘We make the invisible, visible’ and ‘We do not merely tell you what the data say, we tell you what the data mean’.
To meet the challenges to the local research industry that have emerged over the last decade by the changing faces of marketing, media and advertising/promotion in Sri Lanka (such as big data and social media marketing) and its inevitable evolution in the future, SRL is now changing its gears and venturing into overdrive beginning with the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer, Mihirani Dissanayake, who took over operations this month.
With a personal record of nearly 15 years in the local market and social research arena which included the provision of actionable solutions to many multinational and Sri Lankan companies and NGOS, Mihirani brings a wealth of experience to her job.
In recognition of her remarkable contributions to the local research industry, she was elevated to the post of Country Manager/senior Business Director, providing leadership and strategic guidance to the Sri Lankan business operations of a global research company prior to her arrival at SRL. She specialises in brand and communication, stakeholder management, new product concept development and digital research and moreover her passion towards policy research is unparalleled in the industry.
Mihirani, holds an MSC in Management, from the University of Sri Jayawardenapura and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Kelaniya. She started her career as an Assistant Lecturer in the Management Faculty of the University of Kelaniya before she moved in to research. Knowledge sharing is what keeps her alive hence she enjoys teaching whoever needs knowledge. She serves as a visiting lecturer at the University of Kelaniya currently.
“I am joining a great team with a bigger business plan and many innovations in the pipeline to make a significant impact to the business as well as to the industry,” Mihirani said. “SRL has its own innovative product portfolio that are already in high appreciation by its clients in order to make their day to day business decisions.”
Speaking to media, SRL Chairman Neel de Silva said that Mihirani has made a great contribution to the industry through the Market Research Society of Sri Lanka (MRSSL) too as an active member of the Executive Committee and as a Board Member. Further, he elaborated that with Mihirani’s arrival to SRL, the company could expand its offerings by developing new digital-based products and services. “With that we will soon be in a position to service our clients faster than ever enabling them to take prompt business decisions in this fast changing era.”