Q: TO BEGIN WITH, PLEASE TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR ROLE IN CARRIER AND YOUR BACKGROUND IN THE HVAC INDUSTRY? ALSO, IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME IN COLOMBO?
A: I have had the pleasure of visiting Colombo multiple times, and each visit reinforces my excitement about the immense potential Sri Lanka holds. With nearly 18 years at Carrier, I have had the opportunity to work across various geographies—from the United States to India—taking on diverse roles across functions and business units.
Currently, I serve as the Managing Director for Carrier business in India and lead business for few other SAARC countries including Sri Lanka. I am enthusiastic about contributing to our organization’s growth during this dynamic period, and I firmly believe Sri Lanka will play a pivotal role in our regional success story.
Q: TELL ME ABOUT THE HISTORY OF CARRIER. CARRIER IS A 120-YEAR-OLD COMPANY. COULD YOU JUST GIVE US A SHORT SUMMARY ABOUT IT?
A: Carrier was founded in 1902 by Dr. Willis Carrier, who is widely regarded as the father of modern air conditioning. His groundbreaking innovation has transformed how we live, work, and operate across industries. Today, every segment of the market benefits from his legacy.
While we are proud of our 123-year heritage, we also see ourselves as a modern, agile organization. Since becoming a standalone publicly listed company in 2020, we have embraced a startup mindset within a legacy framework. Sustainability has long been a cornerstone of our strategy. We were one of the early adopters of inverter technology and continue to lead in energy-efficient solutions.
Our transformation into a digitally enabled lifecycle solutions provider allows us to support customers throughout the value chain, from product delivery to ongoing service and optimization. We are also focused on making our assets smarter and connected, by implementing digital energy management solutions, businesses can set energy efficiency targets, track real-time consumption and automate system adjustments to minimize waste. Businesses get access to real-time insights at both individual building and portfolio levels, enabling them to identify inefficiencies, prioritize energy reduction measures, and implement impactful sustainability initiatives all while significantly lowering their operational carbon footprint.
Q: CAN YOU PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF CARRIER’S OPERATIONS IN SRI LANKA AND HOW IT COMPARES REGIONALLY?
A: Sri Lanka is one of the most strategic markets for Carrier in the South Asian region. According to the World Bank, Sri Lanka’s economy grew by approximately 5% in 2024, surpassing projections. The Asian Development Bank forecasts per capita GDP growth of 4.1% in 2025. These are encouraging signs of economic recovery.
Tourism is also rebounding; this positive momentum is reflected in our business performance and customer sentiment.
Carrier has been deeply invested in Sri Lanka since 2018 through our legal entity, Carrier Aircon Lanka Pvt. Ltd. We have a dedicated local team, a country leader, channel partners and technicians. We have also established warehousing and a strong network of channel partners to ensure seamless service delivery.
We operate across all product categories – chillers, VRF systems, light commercial units, ducted and cassette systems, and residential split systems. Our focus is on delivering high-efficiency products and customized retrofit solutions.
Q: YOU VERY STRONGLY HIGHLIGHTED THE SUSTAINABILITY FACTOR. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE GREEN EMISSIONS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT?
A: Air conditioning contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions—buildings account for 40% of global GHG emissions, and HVAC systems alone account for nearly 15% of the GHG emissions globally. It has become extremely important for HVAC systems to performs optimally and efficiently. At Carrier, we take this responsibility seriously.
Carrier has maintained a long-standing commitment to sustainability. As one of the founding members of several Green Building Councils globally, the company has consistently prioritized environmental responsibility. In line with its ESG goals, Carrier has set an ambitious target to help customers avoid over one gigaton of carbon emissions by 2030. As of 2024, the company has already contributed to a reduction of more than 367 million metric tons.
We aim to be carbon neutral by 2030 and net zero by 2050. Additionally, we are targeting a 42% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 25% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030. We are also working with verified suppliers to ensure sustainability across the value chain.
Our products are designed with low-GWP refrigerants and high energy efficiency. We are also enabling smarter buildings, which research shows can improve efficiency by up to 30%.
Q: HOW DOES CARRIER PERCEIVE THE ECONOMIC PROGRESS IN SRI LANKA?
We are observing steady growth across all product categories in Sri Lanka including residential, light commercial, VRF systems, and chillers. Notably, the hospitality sector and government-led infrastructure initiatives are showing strong momentum.
This marks my second visit to Sri Lanka in the past six months. During this time, we hosted a significant channel partner event that brought together stakeholders from both India and Sri Lanka, underscoring our commitment to the market.
Sri Lanka presents a promising landscape with its skilled workforce, expanding infrastructure, and increasing demand for smart technologies. These factors make it a conducive environment for Carrier’s intelligent HVAC solutions.
As the country continues to modernize its economy, Carrier is committed to supporting this transformation through innovation, job creation, and the deployment of sustainable technologies that align with both national development goals and global climate objectives.
Q: WITH THAT GROWTH POTENTIAL, WHAT ARE THE TECHNOLOGIES YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE TO SRI LANKA?
A: Sri Lanka holds strong potential for sustainable growth, and with that, we are committed to bringing in advanced, energy-efficient technologies that align with the country’s evolving needs. At Carrier, we are ensuring that our customers understand the benefits of heat pump technology for hot water generation especially relevant in Sri Lanka, where hospitality is a key segment.
Instead of relying on traditional fossil fuel-based systems, hotels can adopt heat pump solutions that are significantly more energy-efficient and environmentally responsible. This represents a forward-looking technology offering that aligns with both sustainability goals and operational efficiency, and we see strong potential for adoption in this market.
We are also introducing our Guaranteed Energy Savings Model and Customized Retrofit Solutions. We recognize that many buildings in Sri Lanka are older, and replacing large systems like chillers can be logistically challenging. Instead of requiring major architectural changes, we can assemble chillers on-site making the process simpler, cost-effective, and minimally disruptive.
Another future-forward concept we’re exploring for the market is Cooling as a Service. This model allows customers to access high-performance cooling without the upfront capital investment of buying the equipment. It is a shift toward more flexible, outcome-based solutions.
Carrier is a global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, operating in 160 countries with over 48,000 employees. Sustainability is embedded into our product development via our Green Product Council, ensuring that every innovation considers energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and recyclability. Many of our facilities are also certified by leading green building standards like LEED and IGBC.
Our goal is to bring this global expertise to Sri Lanka and support its transition to smarter, more sustainable infrastructure.
Source : Ada Derana