Appointments & Executive Moves
View all(21)Duminda Hulangamuwa Appointed New BOI Chairman 📈
• Overall Appointments: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake officially appointed Presidential Senior Economic Adviser Duminda Hulangamuwa as the new Chairman and member of the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka on June 30, 2026. • New Board Composition: Alongside the Chairman, four new members were appointed to the BOI board to drive foreign investment into key national sectors like apparel & textiles, ICT/BPM, and infrastructure: • Vish Govindasamy • Harshani Randiligama • Mangala Karunaratne • K. A. Vimalenthirarajah • Official Handover: The letters of appointment were formally presented this afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
📈 SDB Bank Announces CEO Transition for October 2026
• Executive Departure: SANASA Development Bank PLC (SDB bank) announced that Executive Director/CEO Kapila Ariyaratne will step down from his position and cease to serve on the Board of Directors, effective 6 October 2026, upon completion of his contractual arrangement. • Succession Plan: In line with the bank's approved succession plan, Manoj Akmeemana (currently Deputy CEO) will succeed as Chief Executive Officer, effective 7 October 2026, subject to Central Bank of Sri Lanka approval. • Incoming CEO Profile: Manoj Akmeemana joined SDB bank as Deputy CEO in January 2026. He brings over 35 years of experience in the financial services sector, having previously held senior leadership roles at Sampath Bank PLC, including Senior Deputy General Manager specializing in credit control, risk, and operational oversight. • Outgoing CEO Profile: Kapila Ariyaratne, who joined SDB bank as CEO in October 2024, concludes a key tenure. He previously served as Director/CEO of Seylan Bank PLC for over a decade and held roles across multiple local and international institutions, including Nations Trust Bank PLC and People’s Bank PLC.
📈 Leadership Transition at EY Sri Lanka and Maldives: Gayathri Manatunga Appointed New Country Managing Partner
• Executive Transition: EY Sri Lanka and the Maldives has announced that Country Managing Partner (CMP) Duminda Hulangamuwa will retire on 30 June 2026, concluding an exceptional 42-year career with the firm. • New Appointment: Gayathri Manatunga will succeed him as the new CMP, effective 1 July 2026. • Outgoing Legacy: Hulangamuwa joined EY in 1984, later serving as Head of Tax in 2012 where he expanded key service lines, and assumed the CMP role in 2023. He played a significant role in fiscal policy and private-public sector engagement in the professional services domain. • Incoming Leadership: Manatunga, currently the Head of Assurance for EY Sri Lanka and the Maldives, brings over three decades of experience. She is highly respected within the banking and financial services sector, having spearheaded high-profile audits for multinationals and major locally listed groups. • Future Outlook: Manatunga's appointment is expected to drive EY's next phase of growth with a focus on strategic insight, quality, and a people-first culture.
📈 New CIMA President to Focus on Trust and Innovation in Finance Sector
• Alfred Ramosedi has been elected as the 93rd President of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the 11th Co-Chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, effective 24 June 2026. Dr. Matthew Hansard was elected as CIMA Deputy President. • Key Priorities: The new leadership will focus on building an AI-enabled profession, elevating trust, and championing opportunities for next-generation talent to navigate rapid business transformations. • Regional Impact: AICPA & CIMA Regional Vice President for Asia Pacific, Venkkat Ramanan, noted that Ramosedi’s leadership comes during a period of rapid change for APAC businesses. Ramosedi is scheduled to visit Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in August 2026 to engage with regional stakeholders and CIMA’s Regional Engagement Groups (REG). • Professional Background: Ramosedi brings over 30 years of South African financial services experience, having held executive roles at Nedbank, ABSA Bank, African Bank, and as CEO of Bayport Financial Services. He has been a CIMA volunteer since 1998 and was awarded the CIMA Silver Medal in 2013.
💼 BOI Director General Renuka Weerakone Retires After 32 Years of Service
• Institutional Milestone: Mrs. Renuka M. Weerakone relinquishes her position as Director General of the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka today, 25 June 2026, marking the end of over three decades of unbroken service. • Career Trajectory: Having joined the BOI on 1 June 1994 as an Assistant Manager (Legal), she rose through nearly every tier of the organization—including roles in investment promotion, project monitoring, and appraisal—before becoming Director General. • Key Economic Contributions: • Led outward investment promotion missions to global markets and represented Sri Lanka in high-level trade negotiations to secure foreign direct investment (FDI). • Served on critical project approval committees spanning power, education, and environment. • Resolved investor friction and improved implementation efficiency through inter-agency task forces. • Broader Leadership: Extended her influence across Sri Lanka's trade ecosystem as a Board Member of the Export Development Board (EDB) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Sri Lanka. • Recognition: Awarded the "Women in Investment and International Trade Leadership" title at the Top50 Professional & Career Women Global Awards in 2025. _Reflecting on her retirement, Mrs. Weerakone emphasized that the strength of a nation lies in the "resilience, continuity, and integrity of its administrative backbone."_
📈 Treasury Appoints New Management Audit Director General
• Public Sector Leadership: Mr. M.R.A.G.B. Muthukude, a Senior Officer of the Special Grade of the Sri Lanka Accountants' Service, has been appointed as the new Director General of the Department of Management Audit of the General Treasury. • Extensive Expertise: With nearly 30 years in public financial management, he has served in high-profile roles including Additional Director General of the Department of Public Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Sri Lanka Customs. • Qualifications & Training: A graduate of Rajarata University with a postgraduate degree from SLIDA, he has undergone specialized international training in public policy, project management, and financial systems across the UK, Thailand, Malaysia, and China.
👔 C.W. Mackie PLC Appoints Mangala Perera as Group CEO
Diversified conglomerate C.W. Mackie PLC has announced the appointment of Mangala Perera as its new Group Chief Executive Officer (Group CEO), leveraging his extensive leadership experience across key local sectors. • Executive Transition: Perera, who has served as a Director since April 2012 and is the current Executive Director - Group Chief Operating Officer, steps into the Group CEO role with over 26 years of cross-industry marketing and general management experience. • Subsidiary Leadership: He maintains strategic oversight across key manufacturing and export-related sectors, serving as Managing Director of Sunquick Lanka Ltd. and holding directorships at Kelani Valley Canneries Ltd., Ceymac Rubber Company Ltd., and Ceytra Ltd. (both effective April 2026). • Academic & Professional Profile: Holds a Master’s in Financial Economics (University of Colombo) and a BSc in Marketing Management (University of Sri Jayawardenepura). He is a visiting postgraduate lecturer and serves as a Non-Executive Director at Phoenix Industries Ltd.
Obituary: FCCISL Mourns the Passing of Immediate Past President Keerthi Gunawardane
The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) has announced the passing of its Immediate Past President, Keerthi Gunawardane, a prominent corporate leader and champion of the grassroots economy. His funeral will take place this Sunday. • Career & Entrepreneurship: Began as a Management Trainee at Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Company before founding Graphic Systems Ltd in 1991. He grew the firm into Sri Lanka’s leading NCR Business forms provider, winning the National Bronze Award at the "Sri Lanka Entrepreneur of the Year" (1999) and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sri Lanka Association of Printers (2018). • Chamber Leadership: Assumed the presidency of the FCCISL in October 2022, steering the chamber through a highly challenging domestic economic period. • Trade & Regional Integration: Served as the SAARC contact point for Sri Lanka to boost regional trade and investment. He successfully secured Colombo as the host city for the 39th Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) Conference and partnered with the EDB to open export channels in Japan. • Grassroots & Skill Development: Strongly advocated for local startup ecosystems and pioneered a workplace-based learning program in the hospitality sector alongside NAITA and the ILO. This initiative upskilled returnee and aspiring migrant workers in Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, and Jaffna to boost employment.
Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya Appointed to Lead SriLankan Airlines Restructuring ✈️
• Executive Appointment: The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of prominent corporate leader Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya as the Chairman of the Strategy and Restructuring Committee for SriLankan Airlines. • The Mandate: The newly formed committee is tasked with guiding the national carrier’s strategic direction and restructuring efforts. • Strategic Focus: The appointment is part of ongoing government initiatives to optimize the operational and financial performance of SriLankan Airlines. The ultimate objective is to strengthen the airline’s long-term sustainability and market competitiveness. • Leadership Background: Dr. Wijayasuriya brings extensive corporate experience to the aviation sector, notably from his background in telecommunications and digital transformation.
🌍 Historic First: Sri Lankan Leader Nazri Nizar Elected to YPO Global Board
In a major milestone for Sri Lankan business leadership, Nazri Nizar has become the first Sri Lankan elected to the Global Board of the Young Presidents’ Organisation (YPO) in its 76-year history. • The Appointment: Confirmed at the YPO AGM on May 21, Nizar will serve a three-year term as a YPO Director (2026–2029). He will concurrently take on the role of Chair of the YPO Global Forum Committee. • The Organization: Founded in 1950, YPO connects over 38,000 chief executives and entrepreneurs across 150 countries. Its members collectively lead organizations generating an estimated US$ 9 Tn in annual revenue, making it one of the world's most influential leadership networks. • National Impact: Nizar currently serves as the Group Managing Director of Richardson Holdings, a diversified Sri Lankan enterprise operating in engineering, infrastructure, renewable energy, manufacturing, and out-of-home advertising. • Leadership Journey: His election follows extensive local and regional service, including past roles as Chapter Chair of the YPO Colombo Integrated Chapter and a member of the YPO South Asia Regional Board. Nizar noted he hopes this milestone encourages more Sri Lankan leaders to engage with global platforms and international conversations.
📈 Mastercard Unveils South Asia Leadership Restructure to Boost Digital Payments & Tourism
Mastercard has announced an integrated leadership model across five South Asia markets—Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan—to leverage growing synergies in tourism, cross-border trade, and payment innovations. • New Regional Structure: Mastercard has unified operations across these five nations to scale digital transformation and unlock shared growth opportunities. • Key Appointments: • Sandun Hapugoda has been promoted to Group Country Manager overseeing Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. He brings extensive expertise in fintech, blockchain, and national policy committees in Sri Lanka. • Mahesha Amarasuriya has been elevated to Country Manager for Sri Lanka, bringing over 23 years of experience in corporate and retail banking to drive financial inclusion and digital payment expansion. • Strategic Impact: The restructure aims to strengthen ecosystem partnerships, accelerate digitalization, and capitalize on highly interconnected growth sectors like tourism and trade across the South Asian region.
✈️ Dimal Arandara Formally Appointed as Chairman of SriLankan Airlines
• Leadership Transition: SriLankan Airlines has officially confirmed the immediate appointment of Dimal Arandara as the permanent Chairman of its Board of Directors. • The Background: Arandara previously stepped in as the national carrier's Acting Chairman following the resignation of the former Chairman, Sarath Ganegoda. • Official Concurrence: Internal communications from the airline state that this permanent leadership appointment was made with the formal concurrence of the President of Sri Lanka.