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K R Ravindran, one of Sri Lanka’s esteemed business figures and the only Sri Lankan to serve as Rotary International President from Chicago, USA, was honored as one of the Top 10 Diversity Champions by WIM/IFC (a member of the World Bank) for his contributions to promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within Rotary and his workplace.

Nearly 40 years ago, Ravindran co-founded Printcare Plc with the late Merrill J Fernando. Printcare has evolved into one of South Asia’s most respected diversified printing and packaging enterprises, operating multiple manufacturing facilities in Sri Lanka, India, and Africa. The company is also well-recognized as a preferred employer in the industry, strongly advocating for DEI, implementing various worker-friendly initiatives, employing individuals with physical and mental challenges, and actively engaging with local schools and communities around its facilities.

“For example, in the US, major companies like Walmart, John Deere, Ford, and Harley Davidson have recently scaled back or paused their DEI efforts, citing financial challenges and prevailing political climates. In contrast, businesses in Sri Lanka are unwavering in their resolve to cultivate an authentically respectful workplace, where each individual feels valued, heard, and empowered, and where diversity is celebrated as a strength,” noted KR Ravindran, who has also been featured on the cover of the internationally circulated printing magazine Heidelberg News.

Ravindran holds the distinction of being the first Sri Lankan and the 11th Asian to lead Rotary International, based in Chicago. Following this, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of the $3 billion Rotary Foundation. He played a crucial role in establishing the National Cancer Detection Center and continues to serve as its ambassador, particularly in connecting investors and stakeholders. The center has offered free screenings to over 100,000 women and is now expanding its efforts to include cervical cancer screenings. Sri Lanka aims to be the first nation in the world to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, he spearheaded a Rotary initiative in Sri Lanka to enhance MRI capabilities. During the recent economic downturn, he successfully urged the Rotary International Board to permit a one-time exemption allowing the use of the Rotary brand in a unique partnership with UNICEF.