K.R. RAVINDRAN, India RI Director 2009–2011

Ravi is third generation Rotarian and is a member of the 80 year old Rotary Club of Colombo since 1974. In 1991–1992 he became Governor of his District which covers the territory of Sri Lanka, the youngest the country has ever had.

He has since served in many important RI Committees and as training leader for incoming Governors. He has also served as a training leader for RI membership coordinators at Evanston and as a facilitator and subsequently as a speaker at the large clubs of the world, conference. He was the National Polio-Plus Chairman of Sri Lanka from 1995–2006. Working closely with UNICEF, he successfully negotiated a cease fire with the Tiger Rebels on Immunization days.

His country became the first country in South Asia to become polio free. He headed the recently completed ‘Schools Re-awaken program’ which was a project in Sri Lanka to build 20 high quality schools for Tsunami displaced children. The completed cost of the project was US $ 12m and it became possible for approx 15,000 children to return to school as a result. This is the single largest project done by a District in the history of Rotary and has recently received wide publicity in most Rotary publications and videos. He is an influential business leader in his country being the CEO of a publicly listed Company which he founded.

His company is arguably the largest producer of tea bag packaging in the world with a world-wide clientele. The company is a winner of many national and international awards. He also serves on the boards of other well known Companies and of several charitable Trusts and Foundations. He was a featured speaker on ‘Business Ethics’ at the World Print Congress at Cape Town, South Africa in 2007.

He was appointed a Trustee of the Rotary Foundation for the years 2006–2010 and elected a Director of Rotary International for 2009–2011. Ravi is married to Vanathy and they have two children Krishna and Prashanthi.