Appointments & Executive Moves
View all(21)Lt. Gen. Nilantha Premaratne Appointed 26th Sri Lanka Army Commander 🎖️
• Appointment & Promotion: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Major General Nilantha Premaratne as the 26th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, promoting him to the rank of Lieutenant General effective August 1, 2026. The appointment letter was presented by Presidential Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. • Succession: He succeeds General Lasantha Rodrigo following his retirement from the post. • Career & Background: • Joined the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet in 1990 and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1992 in the Sri Lanka Artillery Regiment. • Served a 36-year military career holding key senior command and staff positions, including Chief of Staff. • Qualifications & Awards: • Holds Master's degrees in Defence Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School (USA) and the University of Kelaniya. • Recipient of the Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) twice for gallantry during humanitarian operations, and the Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP) for distinguished service.
📈 Ceylon Tobacco Appoints Adrian Lee Peng Yong as Finance Director
Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC (CTC) has announced the appointment of Adrian Lee Peng Yong as its new Finance Director, effective 1 August 2026. • Corporate Leadership: Adrian brings 20 years of cross-functional finance and strategic leadership experience within the British American Tobacco (BAT) Group across Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (APMEA). • Previous Roles: Most recently served as Finance Director for BAT Malaysia and Singapore Cluster. He also previously held the position of Regional Head of Operations Finance for APMEA. • Governance & Performance: Recognized for driving financial growth, productivity agendas, and corporate governance—leading BAT Malaysia to 1st place in Consumer Products at the MSWG-NACGSA Corporate Governance Awards. • Strategic Focus: In his new role at CTC, he will oversee financial stewardship, sustainability, and commercial growth initiatives in Sri Lanka. • Qualifications: Holds a Bachelor of Business Management (Double Major in Finance & Marketing) from Singapore Management University.
🏛️ Tribute: H.M.R. Ellepola’s Key Contributions to CBSL & Economic Policy
• Macroeconomic & Fiscal Policy Guidance: Led early macroeconomic assessments during 1970s liberalisation and the accelerated Mahaweli Development Project. Built foundational frameworks later used to establish the Credit Information Bureau (CRIB) (1990) and introduce domestic credit rating systems like Fitch Ratings (1998). • Inflation Control & Monetary Reforms: Managed severe quantitative credit controls in the 1980s, successfully bringing inflation down from above 25% within two years. Standardized the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) annual budgeting process and modernized reserve money control frameworks (later applied at the Central Bank of Seychelles). • Financial Sector & Capacity Building: Served as Secretary to the Monetary Board and Executive Director overseeing public debt, currency issue, and banking operations. Advanced professional banking standards as Vice Chairman of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL), introducing postgraduate qualifications, curriculum overhauls, and formal convocation ceremonies.
📈 Tribute to Dr. Lester Massingham: A Legacy in Management Education
The global and Sri Lankan management communities mark the passing of renowned scholar, educator, and strategic management consultant, Dr. Lester Massingham. • Academic & Professional Contributions: • Durham University graduate and influential author of global textbooks, including _Essentials of Marketing_ and _Marketing Case Studies_. • Played a key role in strengthening professional marketing education through the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK). • Impact on Sri Lanka's Corporate & Academic Sectors: • Crucial in developing national postgraduate management education, specifically shaping Master and Doctor of Business Administration (MBA/DBA) programs. • Advised top Sri Lankan organizations on marketing & strategic management, building local human capital, executive leadership, and corporate capabilities. • Legacy: • Widely recognized for advancing rigor, strategic thinking, and mentor-driven growth across both academia and the broader business ecosystem.
⚖️ Prof. G. L. Peiris to Form Trust Fund for Legal Research at UoC and Sri Lanka Law College
Initiative: Prof. G. L. Peiris has announced plans to establish a Trust Fund using royalties from his legal publications (>10 books on Sri Lanka’s legal systems) to finance research and academic initiatives. Beneficiaries: The Faculty of Law at the University of Colombo (UoC) and the Sri Lanka Law College. Governance: The proposed trustees will be the Vice-Chancellor of UoC, the Principal of Sri Lanka Law College, and the Dean of UoC's Faculty of Law. Journal Revival: The announcement was made at the launch of the revived Sinhala-language journal, ‘Nitiya’ (originally published in 1958, revived in 2024), which aims to foster analytical legal writing, including emerging areas like artificial intelligence (AI), judicial critique, and legislative contributions.
📈 Shemara Wikramanayake to Retire as Macquarie CEO with $ 860M+ in Shares
Sri Lankan-origin Shemara Wikramanayake, 64, has announced her retirement as CEO of Macquarie Group after eight years at the helm and nearly four decades with the firm. She will officially step down in November 2026 and be succeeded by Greg Ward, Head of Banking and Financial Services. • Executive Compensation & Holdings: Wikramanayake departs with over $ 860 million (A$ 1.3+ Bn) in total equity, including 1.47M direct shares valued at $ 375M+, alongside restricted and performance share units. Her total remuneration last year was nearly $ 30 million, making her Australia’s fifth highest-paid CEO. • Corporate Governance: At a tense Annual General Meeting (AGM), Macquarie avoided a "second strike" board spill despite pushback on executive pay packets from groups like the Australian Shareholders' Association. • Fossil Fuel & Climate Backlash: Leadership faced intense grilling from shareholder collectives over funding massive fossil fuel expansions, such as the Beetaloo Basin gas fracking project, which investors argued directly contradicts the Paris Agreement. • Financial Performance: Wikramanayake leaves the financial services titan in a strong position, having recently reported a 30% increase in full-year net profit to $ 4.85 billion.
New Secretary Appointed for Transport, Highways & Urban Development 📑
• Key Leadership Appointment: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Eng. Dr. Asiri Karunawardena as the Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development. • Official Handover: The official letter of appointment was presented by Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, at the Presidential Secretariat. • Background: Prior to assuming this top administrative role overseeing national infrastructure & urban development, Dr. Karunawardena served as the Director General of the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO).
🤝 JICA & EDB Reinforce Partnership to Boost Sri Lankan Exports
A delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) paid an official courtesy call on the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) to review ongoing technical cooperation and discuss future strategies for strengthening export development. • Leadership Transition: • Welcomed newly appointed JICA Chief Representative, Mr. Shigeo Honzu. • Acknowledged outgoing Chief Representative, Mr. Kenji Kuronuma, for his contribution to bilateral economic cooperation. • Key Areas of Engagement: • Reviewed past joint programs focused on technical cooperation, capacity building, and enhancing export competitiveness. • EDB leadership (Chairman/CEO Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe & Acting DG Mr. Erandika Dissanayake) acknowledged JICA's ongoing support in empowering the local trade and investment ecosystem. • Future Focus & Strategic Goals: • Explored new initiatives aimed at expanding market access for local business ventures. • Emphasized institutional capability building, sustainable growth, and driving long-term economic progress for Sri Lankan exporters.
📈 Sri Lanka Emerges as a Global Hub for Leadership and Digital Innovation
• Landmark Event: EY Global Delivery Services (EY GDS) hosted its largest-ever event in Colombo at Cinnamon Life, bringing together nearly 3,500 global professionals and senior leadership. • Economic Vision: Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized the National Digital Economy Strategy, aiming to embed AI-first operations, expand ICT/BPM exports, and establish Sri Lanka as a regional innovation hub. • Talent & Growth: The milestone celebration honoured internal promotions and highlighted Sri Lanka's rapidly growing potential as a premier destination for talent development, digital technology, and high-value global services.
👔 Sanath Manatunge Appointed Chairman of Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC)
Mr. Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon, has been appointed as the Chairman of the EFC for the 2026/27 financial year. The appointment took place at the federation's 97th Annual General Meeting. • Leadership & Transition: Mr. Manatunge succeeds Mr. Dinesh Weerakkody. He will serve alongside Vice Chairman Mr. Dinal Peiris (Chairman/MD of Lanka Aluminium Industries PLC Group). • Strategic Focus: In his inaugural address, Mr. Manatunge emphasized the EFC’s commitment to driving labour law reforms to support future-ready businesses, promoting responsible business practices, and engaging constructively with tripartite stakeholders to strengthen Sri Lanka's employment landscape. • Industry Expertise: Bringing over 36 years of experience in the banking and finance sector, Mr. Manatunge has led Commercial Bank as MD/CEO since May 2022. He previously managed major expansions in the bank's corporate loan book, trade finance, personal banking, and digital banking infrastructure. • National Roles: He concurrently holds prominent leadership positions across the economy, serving as Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA), and as a member of the UNICEF Business Council, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s Stakeholder Engagement Committee.
👔 HNB General Insurance Strengthens Board with Elite Leadership Appointments
HNB General Insurance Ltd. (HNBGI) has appointed Lakshman Silva as Non-Executive/Nominee Director and Sandra De Zoysa as Independent/Non-Executive Director to its Board. The strategic additions aim to accelerate digital scaling and transform customer service architecture. • The Strategic Objectives: The appointments are positioned to elevate financial strategy, regulatory frameworks, and drive future-ready disruption across service channels, pushing HNBGI toward its goal of becoming Sri Lanka's most customer-centric general insurer. • Lakshman Silva (Financial Governance): Brings over 30 years of banking acumen. He is the former CEO of DFCC Bank PLC (2017–2021) and former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Banks' Association. He currently chairs LankaPay and Panasian Power PLC, and serves on multiple boards, including Seylan Bank and HNB Life PLC, alongside the Central Bank's Stakeholder Engagement Committee. • Sandra De Zoysa (Digital & CX): A globally recognized leader with over three decades in the ICT/BPM industry. She spent 28 years at Dialog Axiata PLC, serving as Group Chief Customer Officer and Managing Director of Dialog Business Services. She is a founding member and first Chairperson of SLASSCOM, and currently heads CEx Consulting and the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors' Women Directors Forum.
Sri Lankan Leader Vera Wickramasinghe Elected President of Global Logistics Network FFN 📈
• Historic Milestone: Vera Wickramasinghe, Managing Director of Worldlink Shipping Colombo, has been elected President of the Freight Forwarder Network (FFN) – Netherlands. She is the first female President and the first from outside Europe and the US in the network's history. • Global Leadership: The election took place at the FFN AGM in Barcelona, Spain. Wickramasinghe, founder of Worldlink Shipping and winner of the WCIC Prathibhabhisheka Women Entrepreneur Award 2025, will lead strategic expansion and collaboration across the network's 48 member countries. • Sri Lanka's Logistics Footprint: This high-profile appointment underscores the rising international recognition of Sri Lankan professionals in the global logistics & freight forwarding sector. It builds on the momentum of Colombo successfully hosting the FFN’s 15th AGM at ITC Ratnadipa, cementing the country’s profile as an emerging regional logistics hub.