Salesforce has announced an expanded collaboration with John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), one of Sri Lanka’s largest diversified business groups, to accelerate customer experience transformation across the country.
The expanded partnership will support two key JKH businesses — Keells supermarkets and John Keells CG Auto — as they use data, artificial intelligence and automation to build more connected and personalised customer experiences and support their next stage of growth.
Keells Supermarkets expands personalised customer engagement
A key component of the collaboration is Keells Nexus, one of Sri Lanka’s established loyalty programmes, which is powered by Salesforce and has more than two million members.
Keells Super is using Salesforce Loyalty Management, Data 360, Marketing Automation, MuleSoft and Agentforce Service to bring together customer transactions, preferences, behaviours and interactions.
By creating a more unified view of its customers, the supermarket chain can use these insights to develop more personalised engagement, strengthen loyalty and deliver greater value throughout the customer lifecycle.
Salesforce connects the automotive customer journey
John Keells CG Auto, the authorised distributor of BYD passenger vehicles in Sri Lanka, is also using Salesforce technology to support the country's growing New Energy Vehicle market.
The company is implementing Salesforce Automotive Cloud to manage vehicle inventory while connecting vehicle information with customer interactions throughout the pre-sales, sales, ownership and after-sales stages.
Combining customer and vehicle data is expected to provide John Keells CG Auto with a more complete view of each customer's journey, from initial vehicle discovery and purchase through servicing and long-term ownership.
The technology foundation will also support the company's expansion into new locations, services and premium market segments by enabling more consistent and contextual customer interactions.
Ramesh Shanmuganathan, EVP & Group CIO, John Keells Holdings PLC, said, “At John Keells, we see the experience economy as the next frontier of differentiation. It is about moving beyond transactions to creating connected, intelligent and increasingly personalised experiences. Our partnership with Salesforce brings together data, AI and customer engagement to turn insight into action. From Keells Supermarkets to John Keells CG Auto, we are building a scalable foundation that will expand across the Group, with relevance to each business and its customers. As agentic AI moves increasingly to the edge, we see the opportunity to turn context into action in real time — enabling personalisation at scale.”
Osanda Warnekulasooriya, Senior Vice President and Head of IT – Retail Sector at John Keells Holdings PLC, said, “With more than two million Keells Nexus members, personalisation must be relevant, timely and trusted. Salesforce enables us to bring together customer transactions, preferences and engagement signals so we can better understand our customers and make every interaction more useful. This is about going beyond rewards to build deeper everyday relationships and deliver a more consistent experience across channels.”
Mankiran Chowhan, Managing Director, Salesforce – India & Sri Lanka, said, “Customers do not experience businesses as separate systems or functions, they experience one continuous relationship. Whether someone is making an everyday retail purchase or navigating years of vehicle ownership, the expectation is the same: recognise me, understand my context and make every interaction easier. Our collaboration with John Keells reflects a broader shift from simply collecting customer data to activating trusted customer intelligence across the moments that matter. This is how modern enterprises create sustainable growth: by bringing data, CRM and AI together as one connected operating model.”
The expanded collaboration highlights how businesses can build on existing technology infrastructure to advance their digital transformation strategies. By bringing together data, AI, CRM and automation, JKH's businesses are working towards more connected and customer-focused operating models across retail and automotive.
Prime Minister to Lead Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit Session on the Country’s Digital Future
Sri Lanka’s digital transformation and its role in shaping the country’s future economy will take centre stage at the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit (SLEIS) 2026, with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya delivering the keynote address at a special session titled “Nation Building in the Digital Age.”
Organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the session will take place on 13 October 2026 at Shangri-La Colombo as part of the second day of SLEIS 2026.
The discussion will explore how artificial intelligence, digital transformation, innovation and education can contribute to faster economic growth, greater productivity and the development of a knowledge-based economy. With technology continuing to reshape industries and workplaces, the session will also examine the capabilities Sri Lanka needs to strengthen its competitiveness and expand opportunities for future generations.
Joining the Prime Minister on the panel will be Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy; Prof. Roshan Ragel, Senior Lecturer in Computer Engineering at the University of Peradeniya; and Sanjay Shah, Founder and CEO of Elevante AI. Their participation will bring together perspectives from the public sector, academia and the technology industry.
The session will be moderated by Vinod Hirdaramani, Chairman of Hirdaramani Group and Deputy Vice Chairperson of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
Exploring Technology-Driven Economic Opportunities
The panel will examine both the opportunities and challenges associated with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and automation. Discussions will focus on how these technologies could reshape industries, increase productivity and open up new areas of economic activity.
Digitalisation in the public sector will also form part of the discussion, particularly its potential to enhance public services while creating a more supportive environment for entrepreneurs and technology-driven businesses.
Building Skills for the Future
Education and workforce development will be another key area of focus. As technological advances create demand for new and specialised capabilities, the session will consider how Sri Lanka can equip its workforce for emerging careers and future employment opportunities.
The discussion will also address the importance of creating an environment where innovation can flourish and technology-led enterprises can develop and scale.
Beyond technological adoption, the panel will consider the broader foundations required to build a successful digital economy. Policy, investment, digital infrastructure, education and stronger collaboration between government, industry and academia will be important factors in translating technological progress into sustainable economic opportunities.
SLEIS 2026
SLEIS 2026 is being held under the theme “Positioning Sri Lanka in a Changing Global Economy: Resilience, Reform, and the Future of Economic Policy.”
The two-day summit will bring together senior policymakers, business leaders, investors and international experts to discuss Sri Lanka’s economic outlook, investment opportunities and the reforms required to support sustainable future growth.
John Keells Holdings Expands Salesforce Collaboration to Drive Retail and Automotive Growth in Sri Lanka
