The life of John Keells, respected corporate leader Ken Balendra passes away at 84

Deshamanya Kandiah “Ken” Balendra, a prominent Sri Lankan corporate leader, has passed away at the age of 84.

Born in 1940, Balendra was the first Sri Lankan chairman of John Keells Holdings Ltd., the country’s largest conglomerate. He also held key leadership roles in major companies, including Brandix Lanka Ltd. and the South Asia Regional Fund of the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

Balendra began his career in 1963 as a planter at Finlays before joining John Keells Holdings in 1969. Rising through the ranks, he became a director in 1974 and later served as chairman from 1990 to 2000, overseeing a period of significant growth and diversification.

His leadership extended to various institutions, including the Bank of Ceylon, Ceylon Tobacco Company, Securities and Exchange Commission, Insurance Board of Sri Lanka, and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. In 2000, he became the first president of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors. He also served as a director at Chevron Lubricants Lanka for over a decade.

Recognized for his contributions, Balendra was awarded the Deshamanya title in 1998 by President Chandrika Kumaratunga. He was also appointed Honorary Consul General of Poland in Sri Lanka and received The Cavaliers Cross of the Order of Merit of Poland in 2007. He was named Sri Lankan of the Year in 1998 and voted the Most Effective Business Leader in Sri Lanka in 2003.