Board of Directors | SDB bank Sri Lanka

Ms Ratnayake possesses a broad and in-depth knowledge on financial institutions. She has a strong credit background, and exposure to Debt Capital Markets and International Risk and Compliance Practices.

Ms Ratnayake is a Senior Banking Professional with over 25 years banking experience, for the most part at Citibank N.A. as a Director, Head of Financial Institutions Group in Sri Lanka. Prior experience includes Retail and Institutional Banking at ANZ Grindlays Bank PLC and Corporate Banking at Seylan Bank PLC. She represented SBI Emerging Asia Financial Sector Fund PTE. LTD and Nederlandse Financierings - Maatschappij Voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. (February 2020-April 2022).

Ms Ratnayake is a Co-Founder/Director of IDEAology Strategy Consulting (Pvt) Ltd., which provides advisory and strategic and tactical support to financial institutions and public sector entities in Sri Lanka and the Middle East. She is also a Governing Council Member of South Asia Partnership Sri Lanka, an NGO which engages in social development, working towards building empowered communities to achieve sustainable growth.

Ms Ratnayake holds a BSc Degree in Computer Science from the University of Houston, Clear Lake and a Master of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of Colombo. 

• Chairperson of Board Strategic Planning Committee (BSPC)
• Member of Board Credit Committee (BCC)
• Member of Board Selection and Nomination Committee (BS & NC)
• Member of Board Sub Committee on Sustainability (BSCS)
• Member of Board IT Steering Committee (BITSC)

Mr. Kapila Ariyaratne is a highly experienced banker with over 38 years in the banking industry, having worked for various local and international financial institutions. He is a First Class Honors graduate from the University of Colombo and holds a Post–Graduate Diploma in Business and Financial Administration.

Mr. Ariyaratne served as the Director/Chief Executive Officer at Seylan Bank from 2011 until his retirement in April 2023 where he successfully steered the institution through critical periods of transformation and growth. His expertise, spanning Corporate and Institutional Banking, Commercial Banking, Risk Management, Trade Finance Operations and Development Credit, has been honed through his roles at banking institutions such as People’s Bank, ABN Amro Bank, Arab National Bank (Saudi Arabia), Nations Trust Bank PLC,and Mashreq Bank.

Mr. Ariyaratne has also held leadership roles such as Chairman of Seylan Developments PLC, and has served on the Boards of the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association, Lanka Financial Services Bureau Ltd., Lanka Clear Pvt. Ltd., and the Credit Information Bureau of Sri Lanka. He has also contributed to the financial services industry as a member of the Governing Board of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka, the Financial System Stability Consultative Committee (FSSCC) of Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Stakeholder Engagement Committee of Central Bank of Sri Lanka. His contributions to the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon as a Council Member representing the banking and financial sector further highlight his commitment to the industry’s growth and stability. Since his retirement in April 2023 he has served on the Boards of Fintrex Finance Limited, Ceylinco Holdings PLC and RIL Property PLC.

The Vice - Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Prof. Amaratunge is an expert in the field of economics with special reference to rural development and draws from three decades of service as a leading academic in Sri Lanka.

Having published more than 75 Articles in international and national refereed journals and proceedings, Prof. Amaratunge holds a BA (Hons.) in Economics from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, MA in Economics from the University of Colombo, and MSc. in Economics of Rural Development from the Saga National University and a PhD. from Kogoshima National University in Japan.Prof. Amaratunge was also a recipient of the prestigious Research Excellence Award in 2002, awarded by Kyushu Society of Rural Economics, Japan, which is in addition to several other local and international awards.

He was a Member of the University Grants Commission and Chairman of the Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA).

• Chairman of Member of Board Related Party Transactions Review Committee (BRPTRC)
• Member of Board Audit Committee (BAC)
• Member of Board Integrated Risk Management Committee (BIRMC)
• Member of Board Co-operative, Rural Enterprise and Livelihood Development Committee (BCRELDC)
• Member of Board Selection and Nomination Committee (BS & NC)

An award-winning finance professional, a dedicated advocate for good governance, a thought leader, senior chartered accountant, corporate trainer, management consultant, and trusted business advisor, with a proven track record of holding senior leadership positions in both prominent local entities and multinational corporations.

He serves as the Founder/President of Asia Pacific Institute of Money and Entrepreneurship Development, the Founder/CEO of Human Capital Partner, and the Chairman/Principal Consultant of H C P Consulting (Pvt.) Ltd. Additionally, he holds advisory roles in various entities and committees while also serving as an Independent, Non-Executive Director of Asia Asset Finance PLC , Singhe Hospitals PLC , Sathosa Motors PLC and Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC.

Mr. Kumarasiri brings to the table over 25 years of extensive lecturing and corporate training experience, having successfully trained over one million individuals both in Sri Lanka and abroad. He possesses a diverse range of professional and academic qualifications, complemented by numerous awards and medallions. As a Fellow member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) - UK, The Institute of Certified Management Accountants (CMA) of Sri Lanka, and The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) of Sri Lanka, he embodies a commitment to excellence in his field. Mr. Kumarasiri holds a BSc. Accountancy (Special) Degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, graduating with First Class honors, and has furthered his education with an MBA in Finance from the University of Colombo.

He has held prestigious positions such as Financial Controller at the Bank of Ceylon, Chief Financial Officer at The Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC, Assistant Vice President at HSBC Securities Services, and Senior Manager of Assurance and Advisory Business Services at Ernst & Young, including a secondment to Ernst & Young LLP in New York.

He has significantly contributed to the professional community by serving on the governing boards of leading professional bodies and engaging in numerous initiatives. He served as a Governing Council Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka for two consecutive terms, chaired several committees, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Member Network Panel of ACCA Sri Lanka. Additionally, he represents the entire South Asia region on the International Panel on Accounting Education (IPAE) at the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).

Mr. Kumarasiri was honored with the ACCA National Advocate of the Year Award for 2022, recognizing his exceptional commitment and dedication to promoting the accountancy profession and its values.

He is a key influencer in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Sri Lanka, frequently appearing in public forums, media, and events as a speaker and panelist. He also holds key positions in several national forums and task forces dedicated to entrepreneurship and SME empowerment.

• Chairman of Board Audit Committee (BAC)
• Chairman of Board Selection and Nomination Committee (BS & NC)
• Member of Board Integrated Risk Management Committee (BIRMC)
• Member of Board Human Resources & Remuneration Committee (BHRRC)
• Member of Board Sub Committee on Sustainability (BSCS)
• Member of Board IT Steering Committee (BITSC)
• Member of Board Related Party Transactions Review Committee (BRPTRC)
• Member of Board Strategic Planning Committee (BSPC)

Drawing from over 30 years of private and public sector experience as an Agriculturist and Development Banker, Mr. Premaratna was heavily invested in the development of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME) across Sri Lanka. As a Development Banker, he was mainly involved in assisting many start-up projects. Today, he holds the position of Board Member of the South Asia Partnership of Sri Lanka (SAPSRI).

Mr. Premaratna holds a Master's Degree in Agriculture from the USSR, a Post Graduate Diploma in Bank Management from the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka and a Post Graduate Executive Diploma in International Relations from the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) Colombo. He has participated in many local and overseas programmes in Development Banking and agriculture related banking programmes in Europe, South East Asia and Japan. He is a Member of the Association Professional Bankers of Sri Lanka (APB).

Mr. Premaratna was a Chairman of the Regional Development Bank of Sri Lanka, Vice President of DFCC Bank and the Chief Executive officer of DFCC Consulting Private limited. He was also a Pioneer Member of the Management Team of Pelawatte Sugar Industries before moving into the Banking Sector.

• Chairman of Board Integrated Risk Management Committee (BIRMC)
• Member of Board Audit Committee (BAC)
• Member of Board Related Party Transactions Review Committee (BRPTRC)
• Member of Board Human Resources & Remuneration Committee (BHRRC)
• Member of Board Procurement and Assets Disposal Committee (BP & ADC)

Anchored to a career spanning across three decades in the co-operative sector, Mr. Abhayawickrama Bandara presently holds Directorships of the Polgahawela SANASA Shareholders Trust Company Ltd and SANASA Printers & Publishers Ltd. He is also the General Manager of the Polgahawela Sanasa Societies Union Ltd.

Mr. Bandara holds a Diploma in Banking & Finance from SANASA Campus Ltd, a Diploma in Business Management from the National Institute of Co-operative Development, a Professional Diploma in Co-operative Management from the Academy of Wayamba Co-operative Rural Bank, a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy from the Technical College Kurunegala, and a Certificate in Banking & Finance from the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka.

A former Director of SANASA Development Bank PLC, Mr. Bandara has also held the post of Director of the SANASA Producer and Consumer Alliance Limited, and was also Chairman of Panaliya Sanasa Society.

• Chairman of Board Co-operative, Rural Enterprise and Livelihood Development Committee (BCRELDC)
• Member of Board Strategic Planning Committee (BSPC)

Mr Thusantha Wijemanna is an Attorney — at- Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and a Notary Public with over 20 years of experience in the Banking Industry. He holds the degree of Bachelor of laws (LL.B) (First Class Honours) from University of Colombo and Master of Laws (LL.M.) from University of London. His last assignment was as Director General of the SAARC Arbitration Council (SARCO) in Islamabad, Pakistan. Prior to that, he was Legal Advisor to Ministry of External Affairs in Colombo, General Counsel of DFCC Bank and Company Secretary/Chief Legal Officer of Sampath Bank. He was also a Commissioner of Sri Lanka Law Commission.

He is a Commonwealth and Chevening Scholar of the United Kingdom, a Research Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in London and an Alumni of Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in Manila.

At present he is a Council Member of the Open University of Sri Lanka and a Director of the Swadeshi Industrial works PLC.

• Chairman of Board Human Resources & Remuneration Committee (BHRRC)
• Chairman of Board Procurement and Assets Disposal Committee (BP & ADC)
• Member of Board Credit Committee (BCC)
• Member of Board Related Party Transactions Review Committee (BRPTRC)
• Member of Board Selection and Nomination Committee (BS & NC)

Mr. S H Sarath Nandasiri possesses over 10 years’ experience in the field of Credit. He had held the positions of Manager – Sales and Branch Manager in Softlogic Finance PLC from 2009 – 2017. He also has experience in working with Rural Community particularly working with SANASA Movement. Presently he holds the position as General Manager of Kegalle Sanasa District Union Ltd.

He possesses B.Com (Hons) University of Peradeniya, Diploma in Credit Management (IBSL) and Certificate in Leasing Operations (CBSL).

• Member of Board Credit Committee (BCC)
• Member of Board Co-operative, Rural Enterprise and Livelihood Development Committee (BCRELDC)

Mr. Conrad Dias holds Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Leicester UK and Fellow Membership of the Chartered Management Accountants UK (FCMA), Chartered Global Management Accountants (CGMA -USA), Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (FCMA) and the British Computer Society (FBCS).

His experience spans over three decades and is a visionary leader in business technology. His C-Level experience spans over twenty years.

He is a fintech enthusiast who innovated many financial technology products and solutions. He is the founder of iPay, a revolutionary platform beyond payments and of OYES, another fintech platform that makes everyday a payday.

His thought leadership on technology and contribution in the field of ICT to the industry, society and in LOLC Group was recognized by many local and international awards including the Prestigious Computer Society of Sri Lanka CIO of the year 2016 and Chartered Management Institute of Sri Lanka Professional Excellence Award 2017. He was inducted to the Global CIO Hall of Fame 2020 of IDG CIO100 , the only Sri Lankan to get this accolade.

• Chairman of Board IT Steering Committee (BITSC)
• Member of Board Integrated Risk Management Committee (BIRMC)
• Member of Board Strategic Planning Committee (BSPC)

A distinguished banker with a strong credit background, Mr Naveen Sooriyarachchi has a broad and in-depth knowledge on SMI Finance, Project Finance, Trade Finance, Corporate Banking and Investment Banking, built over an eminent 40-year career in banking. Mr Sooriyarachchi has held Key Corporate Management positions at Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC. As the Deputy General Manager Corporate Banking, he was instrumental in steering Commercial Bank to win the ‘Best Trade Finance Bank in Sri Lanka’ award of the ‘Asian Banker’ consecutively in 2019 and 2020 as well as the ‘Best Corporate Bank in Sri Lanka’ award of International Finance (UK) in 2019. Mr Sooriyarachchi was also responsible for the initiation of Investment Banking Operations at Commercial Bank after studying Investment Banking at the Boston University, USA on a Fulbright Scholarship. During this period, he has also served as a consultant in the Capital Markets Division, Asia Department of the IFC (International Finance Corporation), Washington. He also has a Master’s degree in Business Administration & Finance from the University of Colombo and is an Associate of the Institute of Bankers, Sri Lanka (IBSL). Mr Sooriyarachchi has served as a Director in CBC Finance Ltd and CBC Tech Solutions Ltd, the Leasing and IT subsidiaries of Commercial bank. Mr Sooriyarachchi is an Independent, Non-Executive Director of Durdans Medical and Surgical Hospital (Pvt) Ltd. He is also the Chairman of National Gem and Jewellery Authority. He represents BIO (Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries SA / NV), a major shareholder of SDB bank.

• Chairman of Board Credit Committee (BCC)
• Member of Board Audit Committee (BAC)
• Member of Board Human Resources & Remuneration Committee (BHRRC)
• Member of Board Procurement and Assets Disposal Committee (BP & ADC)

Mr.Romani de Silva a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Management, Sri Lanka, is the Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Alliance Finance Co PLC and holds Directorates in many other companies. He counts over 30 years’ experience in the finance industry. An active promoter in developing sustainable finance in Sri Lanka, Mr.de Silva serves as a Council Member on the Sustainability Standards & Certification Initiative and the Finance 4.0 - initiative of the European Organization for Sustainable Development - an European Union initiative.

From 2009 he has served as a Council Member of the Finance Houses Association of Sri Lanka (FHASL) and currently heads the Sub Committee of the FHA on Sustainability. He has represented the FHASL on the Steering Committee initiated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to develop a Sustainable Finance Road map for Sri Lanka for the Non-Bank Financial Sector and also on the National Financial Inclusion Strategy Project initiated by the World Bank, IFC, and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Mr. De Silva is also a founder investor in the pioneering “Ath Pavura” reality TV Programme co-founded by the Lanka Impact Investing Network (LIIN) and Social Enterprise Lanka (SEL) in Sri Lanka which aims to create awareness on social enterprise and develop an impact investing culture in the country. Currently he also serves as the Honorary Treasurer of the SLICM - an educational institution dedicated for the development of the leasing and hire purchase industry in Sri Lanka which was incorporated by an Act of Parliament. He is also a Life member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors.

• Chairman of Board Sub Committee on Sustainability (BSCS)
• Member of Board Credit Committee (BCC)
• Member of Board Co-operative, Rural Enterprise and Livelihood Development Committee(BCRELDC)

Mr. Chandana Dissanayake counts nearly 40 years of experience in the Banking and Non-Banking Financial Sector, with extensive experience in the areas of Corporate, Commercial and Retail Lending, Credit Risk Management in UAE, Oman & Sri Lanka. He has worked for 10 years with National Bank of Abu Dhabi as Vice President – Government Corporate Relations and Associate Director – Commercial Coverage, as well as with HSBC Bank Middle East as Credit Manager for 5 years. He has also held the position of Head of Credit at Union Bank of Colombo. After his return to Sri Lanka, he worked for Assetline Leasing Company Limited from 2017 to 2020 during which period he served as a Consultant and was also appointed to the Board as Executive Director, to help develop their non-automotive business. He is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers UK and brings extensive experience and exposure in the Financial Services Sector, both in Sri Lanka and Overseas. 

He represents Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij Voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. (FMO) and SBI Emerging Asia Financial Sector Fund PTE.LTD (SBI) major Shareholders of the Bank.

• Member of Board Integrated Risk Management Committee (BIRMC)
• Member of Board Human Resources & Remuneration Committee (BHRRC)
• Member of Board Sub Committee on Sustainability (BSCS)
• Member of Board Selection and Nomination Committee (BS & NC)
• Member of Board Procurement and Assets Disposal Committee (BP & ADC)

Dr. Mahesha Ranasoma serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Global Rubber Industries [GRI]. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK, an MBA from the University of Wales, UK and a bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Peradeniya.

Dr. Mahesha has many years of experience in Executive Leadership positions. He served as a board member of Hayleys PLC and the Managing Director of Dipped Products PLC prior to joining GRI. Before that, he was the Country Chairman of Shell Companies in Sri Lanka. He counts several years of experience in Research & Development and Teaching as a senior lecturer in Coastal Engineering during his time serving the Open University of Sri Lanka. He has also been a Consultant in Environmental management for private and donor-funded projects.

He is the representative Director of Ayenka Holdings Private Limited, a major Shareholder of SANASA Development Bank PLC.

• Member of Board Sub Committee on Sustainability (BSCS)
• Member of Board Strategic Planning Committee (BSPC)