Gehan A. Cooray Steps Into a New Era as the First Vice Chairman of Jetwing Travels
By: Thasmina Sookoor
Actor, filmmaker and creative visionary Gehan A. Cooray has entered a significant new chapter with his appointment as the first Vice Chairman of Jetwing Travels. Best known for building an international career across Hollywood, theatre and music, Cooray now brings his creative perspective and global experience into one of Sri Lanka’s most established hospitality brands. His appointment marks not only a generational transition within the Jetwing legacy, but also the beginning of a broader vision that seeks to blend creativity, culture and corporate leadership. In this exclusive interview, Gehan reflects on legacy, leadership, artistic independence and the future of Jetwing as he prepares to help guide the company into a bold new era.
Congratulations on your appointment as Vice Chairman of Jetwing Travels. What does this role mean to you personally and professionally?
After spending decades portraying different characters on stage and screen, this feels like another important role in my life, except this time it is deeply connected to my own family legacy. What makes this especially meaningful is seeing the happiness it has brought my grandmother Mary Josephine Cooray, who turns ninety-one this month and remains one of the largest stakeholders at Jetwing. I often think about my late grandfather Herbert Cooray, the Founder Chairman of Jetwing, and how much I wish he could see this moment. He encouraged me to study in the United States and supported my decision to pursue Theatre, Psychology and Cinema at the University of Southern California. Like me, he valued literature, education and intellectual curiosity. This role is also historically significant because Jetwing has never had a Vice Chairman before. The position was created because the company has expanded in scale and complexity. From an artistic perspective, it feels similar to being given a new script and being allowed to create something entirely original. At the same time, I am not abandoning my artistic identity. I will continue my work as an actor, filmmaker and singer. The difference now is that I will spend more time in Sri Lanka than in America over the next few years as I contribute more actively to Jetwing. My decision was influenced by both family and responsibility. My parents Shiromal Cooray and Raju Arasaratnam wanted me to become more involved, and many longtime employees also expressed a desire to see me take a leadership role. Having run my own production company in Los Angeles and collaborated with Warner Bros., I hope to bring not only international experience but also a sense of creativity and imagination into Jetwing and, by extension, Sri Lanka itself.
As someone with such a strong creative background, do you hope to bring more arts, culture and entertainment driven experiences into the Jetwing brand?
Absolutely. I believe the Jetwing brand is ready to evolve in exciting new directions. Creativity and imagination have always defined me, even during my school years at St Joseph’s College, and I feel those qualities can help elevate Jetwing into something even more dynamic. I would love to eventually produce films or television projects in Sri Lanka involving internationally recognized actors while also creating opportunities for local talent. I also hope to stage theatrical and musical productions here with performers from Broadway and opera circles whom I know professionally.
My grandfather understood the importance of the arts and humanities long before many business leaders did. He encouraged me to study Shakespeare, literature and languages because he recognized that culture and intellect are essential foundations of civilization. I also hope to establish a book club within Jetwing because reading great literature broadens perspective and cultivates deeper thinking. I believe exposure to the arts improves people not only professionally but personally as well. Having spent nearly two decades between Hollywood and Manhattan, I have seen how arts and entertainment can drive economies and shape culture. I believe Sri Lanka has the potential to build a more sustainable creative ecosystem if it learns to value culture as both an artistic and economic force.
Having established careers in film, theatre and music, did you always see yourself eventually stepping into a leadership role within the family business?
To be honest, it never felt inevitable to me, although many people in my family believed it would happen eventually. My aunt Taniya Cooray often reminded me that I was Herbert Cooray’s eldest grandson and should one day assume a major role within Jetwing. However, the longer I lived in the United States, the more distant that possibility seemed. In America, most people are unfamiliar with Sri Lanka and therefore unaware of Jetwing’s prominence. In many ways, I appreciated that because it allowed me to build an identity completely independent of my family name. I take pride in the fact that my artistic achievements stand on their own merit. Many articles and interviews about my work make no mention of my family background. That independence was very important to me because I have never wanted to rely entirely on inherited privilege. Over time, though, I realized that personal ambition and individualism must coexist with responsibility and duty. Western culture places great value on independence, while Eastern traditions emphasize family and collective responsibility. I have reached a stage in life where I can embrace both. Since I have already achieved many of my artistic goals overseas, I now feel ready to contribute meaningfully to Jetwing without losing my own identity in the process.
Coming from the next generation of the Jetwing legacy, what responsibility do you feel in carrying forward the vision built by your late grandfather Herbert Cooray?
I do not see myself as someone who is simply preserving a legacy. My responsibility is to refine, strengthen and elevate the company for the future. Maintaining the status quo is never enough. Businesses stagnate when they stop evolving intellectually and creatively. One of my strengths has always been generating ideas and encouraging people to think beyond conventional limitations. I also strongly believe that profits should never come at the expense of principles. Leadership must involve integrity, discipline and genuine values. I want Jetwing to remain not only commercially successful but also ethically grounded.
Your feature film The Billionaire explored the relationship between money and morality. Did that experience change how you view Sri Lanka’s global potential?
Absolutely. The Billionaire represented something unique for a Sri Lankan filmmaker because it was created entirely within the Hollywood system. I cast the actors in Hollywood, filmed in Canada and supervised post-production at Warner Bros. Studios in Los Angeles. When the film received recognition at international festivals and became eligible for major awards consideration, it was evaluated as an independent Hollywood production rather than simply a Sri Lankan film. That experience showed me both the immense potential of Sri Lankan talent and the limitations created by local mindsets. Too often, genuinely visionary individuals struggle because society discourages unconventional thinking. Sri Lanka possesses extraordinary talent, but much of it remains undiscovered or unsupported. I hope to identify gifted creatives and collaborate with them on projects that can succeed internationally.
What do you think you will learn most from your mother Shiromal Cooray’s leadership experience?
One of the greatest lessons my mother demonstrates is the importance of adaptability and versatility. Before joining Jetwing, she built her own career at Ernst and Young and J Walter Thompson. Later, while leading Jetwing Travels, she also served on the boards of major institutions such as Commercial Bank and CAL. She showed that true leadership requires the ability to operate across different environments and disciplines. Strong leaders are capable of transformation and reinvention rather than remaining confined to one role forever. Jetwing itself survived some incredibly difficult periods because of her resilience and leadership. Industry insiders know how instrumental she was in preserving key properties and stabilizing the company after my grandfather’s death.
Do you see yourself playing a key role in Jetwing’s future international expansion?
Certainly. Jetwing Travels already has offices in Hungary, Japan and the Maldives, while also maintaining representation in countries such as France, Germany, China, Italy and India. What excites me most about Jetwing Travels is its genuinely international scope. Unlike hotels, which are naturally tied to physical locations, the travel business offers limitless possibilities for expansion. Personally, I would love to eventually establish a Jetwing presence in Hollywood and Manhattan because those cities shaped so much of my professional life. I also see potential in countries such as Switzerland and Australia where I already possess valuable contacts and networks. For now, however, my immediate focus is on understanding our Sri Lankan operations more deeply and strengthening our foundation at home before pursuing larger global ambitions.
What advice would you give young Sri Lankans trying to balance passion with profession?
I believe self-understanding is the starting point for everything. During my Psychology studies, I became very interested in the Big Five personality traits, commonly referred to as the OCEAN model. Understanding your own personality can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses more clearly.
In my view, openness to new experience and conscientiousness are the two most important qualities for long term success. Openness fuels creativity and intellectual curiosity, while conscientiousness provides the discipline necessary to sustain achievement over time. Life is not a sprint. It is a marathon. Success requires patience, endurance and consistency. I also strongly believe in the value of serious higher education. A proper university education trains the mind to think critically and objectively. Without intellectual discipline, passion alone eventually burns out. Young people today must also learn discernment. Not everyone around you will genuinely support your growth. Trust your instincts, invest in your education and remain selective about the influences you allow into your life. Raw talent without discipline rarely leads to lasting success. Passion must be guided by intellect, perseverance and wisdom.
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As Gehan Cooray steps into this landmark leadership role at Jetwing Travels, he represents a distinctive blend of artistry, intellect and corporate ambition. His vision extends beyond hospitality into culture, storytelling and creative innovation, signaling a broader evolution for the Jetwing brand. While remaining deeply connected to his artistic identity, Cooray now embraces the responsibility of guiding one of Sri Lanka’s most respected travel and hospitality institutions into a new era shaped by creativity, global thinking and ethical leadership.
