Suresh had his primary education at St. Thomas’ Prep School, Kollupitiya, Sri Lanka, and his secondary education at St. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, Sri Lanka.  Before his tertiary education in the USA, he worked as a student in “Appropriate Technology” with the Appropriate Technology Group of Sri Lanka, the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement in Sri Lanka, and the Intermediate Technology Development Group in London, under the guidance of his father Mr. J. Nihal de Mel, Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne, Dr. Anton de Wilde, and Dr. E.F. Schumacher.   He holds an Associate of Science Degree in Automotive Technology from Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, Oregon, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Engineering from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, California, USA. During his tertiary education, Suresh worked as a Work-study Student Engineer and then as an Agricultural and Environmental Engineer for CH2M Hill Inc., USA, for 10 years. Suresh currently practices and preaches Socially and Environmentally Responsible Entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka thru active involvement in the following endeavors, as: Managing Director of Lanka Fishing Flies (Pvt) Ltd., a pioneering US-Sri Lanka Joint Venture since 1981, hand-crafting and exporting Umpqua brand fishing flies worldwide. The Company currently employs 200 workers in factories in Colombo, Tangalla and Ratnapura, Sri Lanka.  Proprietor of Sports Fishing Lanka, a pioneering enterprise promoting “Catch and Release” sports fishing promoting conservation in Sri Lanka. Chairman/Managing Director of Lanka Eco Adventure Frontiers (Pvt) Ltd., a “start-up” company to promote conservation of rainforests and wet lands through “responsible” tourism. Group Chairman of Ecowave (Gte) Ltd., a group of Social Enterprises in ArugamBay and Moneragala, Sri Lanka, promoting “sustainable” agriculture and "responsible" tourism. Group Director of Citrus Leisure PLC a young and dynamic group of public quoted companies operating three, star class Hotels in Hikkaduwa, Waskaduwa, and Colombo, Sri Lanka. Chairman of Doonvale (Pvt) Ltd., a Boutique Guest House (Colonial Bungalow) in Bandarawela, Sri Lanka. Chairman of Lanka Aqua Villas (Pvt) Ltd., a Boutique Guest House (Lake Villa) in Bolgoda, Bandaragama, Sri Lanka. Chairman of the Board of Navajeevana Rehabilitation Tangalla, a project “bringing new life to the Disabled”. Past Chairman of the Board and a founder member of the Business for Peace Alliance (BPA) – Sri Lanka’s Regional Chambers of Commerce network for Conflict Transformation, Reconciliation, Regional Empowerment, and Corporate Social Responsibility. Past President and Founder Member of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises in Tourism (ASMET) Sri Lanka and continues to serve on its Board of Directors/Executive Committee. Director on the Boards of the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce – the first District Level Chamber in Sri Lanka, of which he has been associated with since its inception in 1993. Council Member of the Employers Federation of Ceylon – representing Small and Medium Industries and the Regional Chambers. Board Director of The Skills Development Fund Ltd., Sri Lanka - representing the Private Sector and Entrepreneurship. Governing Council Member of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka. Tusker, Lanka Impact Investment Network and Independant Television Network's, Ath Pvura (Wall of Tuskers) - a pioneering TV reality show that is identifying, nurturing and recognizing hidden gems seeking to solve social and environmental issues from within Sri Lanka's "social" startup ecosystem. Director on the Board of Young Entrepreneurs Sri Lanka.  Suresh is a social entrepreneur who actively promotes investments and entrepreneurship that sustain “people, planet and profit”.  Since 1990 he has been involved in the Chambers of Commerce movement in Sri Lanka and continues to work with central and regional Chambers of Commerce and Tourism Associations, to build capacity, network and empower institutions and entrepreneurs especially at the rural and grass-root level. He is a Social Entrepreneur, Impact Investor, and the Acting Managing Director of GEN Global Sri Lanka. In December 2020 His Excellency, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the President of Sri Lanka appointed Suresh as the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board - the apex state agency for export development and promotion.