Nishad Upendra, Jayakody Arachchige

Founder & CEO, YouLike Canada Holdings Inc. | PALM RUSH®

Nishad Jayakody Arachchige is the Founder and CEO of YouLike Canada Holdings Inc., the strategic force behind PALM RUSH®, a registered Canadian trademark and premium brand of organic tropical beverages and authentic Ceylon tea.Driven by a commitment to high-velocity category growth and uncompromised supply chain transparency, Nishad launched PALM RUSH to bridge the gap between Sri Lanka’s natural vitality and the North American natural foods market.

Equipped with a Master’s degree in Communication and Media, Nishad transitioned into the consumer packaged goods sector following a distinguished executive career in public affairs and national policy. He served as the Deputy Director of Communications at the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka and as the Press Secretary for the Sri Lankan Parliament. During his tenure, he spearheaded the ‘Atu Kotu Purawamu’ campaign—a national food drive promoting agrochemical-free, organic agriculture-and governed national ESG communications as a Board Director for the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority.

This deep-rooted advocacy for ethical, sustainable agriculture and expert-level brand messaging forms the bedrock of PALM RUSH. Nishad guarantees strict brand transparency and formulation authenticity, prioritizing consumer education on true tropical ingredients. Under his leadership, the brand proudly highlights its differentiators: utilizing authentic, golden-orange King Coconuts grown exclusively for premium hydration with no white meat, and preserving the delicate, refined aroma of pure, single-origin Ceylon teas.

An alumnus of the United States Department of State’s Professional Fellowship program, Nishad brings a refined global perspective to distributor relationships and retail category management. Operating out of British Columbia, he actively drives PALM RUSH’s retail execution and omnichannel expansion, ensuring the brand remains a top-tier, high-margin lifestyle choice for North American consumers and retail partners alike.