UDARA CUMARATUNGA

General Manager Commercial and Marketing, South Asia Gateway Terminals (Pvt) Ltd

- By Dr. Sulochana Segera

In an industry defined by scale, speed and operational precision, leadership is often measured in volumes moved and efficiencies delivered. For Udara Cumaratunga, General Manager Commercial and Marketing at South Asia Gateway Terminals Pvt Ltd, leadership is also about people, adaptability and perspective. Her career journey across real estate, digital marketing and maritime logistics reflects a willingness to step beyond conventional career paths in pursuit of learning and growth. Joining SAGT at the height of a global crisis, Udara found herself at the center of efforts to digitize import clearance processes almost overnight, helping to ensure the uninterrupted flow of essential goods into Sri Lanka. Today, as the only female member of SAGT's Senior Management Team in 2024 and the first female President of the Sri Lanka-Australia-New Zealand Business Council under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, she represents a new generation of leaders reshaping how commercial strategy and inclusive leadership intersect in traditionally male dominated sectors.

Your career spans real estate, digital marketing and maritime logistics. What motivated you to embrace such diverse industries, and how did each transition shape you as a leader?