Pradeep Gunawardena assumed duties yesterday as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Standards Institute.

He was appointed to the post under the recommendation of President Maithripala Sirisena and Minister Susil Premajayantha.

Gunawardena was a former Chairman of State Trading Corporation. He also served as the Consul General for Sri Lanka in California, USA.

He was also responsible for the introduction of new concepts such as 'Upahara' and 'Web Patashala' to expand the state trading sector.