Appointments & Executive Moves
View all(21)📈 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.
Senior business leader Ramya Wickramasingha passes away 🕊️
• Ceylon Biscuits Ltd. (CBL) Group Chairman Ramya Sanath Amaraweera Wickramasingha passed away on Saturday. • Wickramasingha was a highly respected leader in the food industry, having qualified in food technology at Borough Polytechnic (London South Bank University, UK). • Under his leadership, he drove CBL Group's core focus on product innovation, quality control, research and development (R&D), manufacturing, and procurement, helping position Sri Lanka on the global food manufacturing map. • For millions of stakeholders and CBL employees, he was regarded as both an inspirational leader and a key father figure who deeply impacted national employment and industrial growth. • The cremation will take place today, June 8, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the Dehiwala/Mount Lavinia Cemetery.
📊 Amana Takaful Life Appoints Two Independent Directors to Board
Amana Takaful Life PLC has appointed Pradeep Dilshan Rajeeva Hettiaratchi and Dev Nissanka Wijewardane as Independent Non-Executive Directors to strengthen its strategic and technological oversight. • Financial Expertise: Dilshan Hettiaratchi brings over 30 years of global finance and investment banking experience. He is currently the Managing Director of Dubai-headquartered Faber Capital Ltd. and Chairman of Sampath Securities Ltd. He has previously held board positions at Sampath Bank PLC, Amana Bank PLC, and Windforce PLC, and was heavily involved in establishing Sri Lanka’s first utility-scale solar PV project. • Technology & Digital Governance: Dev Wijewardane joins with over 20 years of experience in information technology and digital transformation. He serves as Senior Director and Field CTO at WSO2, advising financial and telecom institutions on large-scale digital platforms. He is also the founder of a technology startup focused on the logistics industry. • Strategic Impact: These appointments bring specialized expertise in capital markets and enterprise risk management, supporting the company's focus on digital innovation and modernization within Sri Lanka's regulated insurance sector.
✈️ Emirates Promotes First Two Emirati Female Pilots to Captains
Emirates airline has officially promoted two Emirati female pilots, Hanan Mohammed Jawad and Bakhita Al Mheiri, to the rank of captain, marking a historic milestone for women in regional aviation. • Key Highlights: Both pilots achieved their fourth stripe this year, becoming the first Emirati female captains at Emirates. Both will be operating the airline's Boeing 777 fleet. • Career Trajectory: • Hanan Mohammed Jawad joined Emirates in 2008 through the cadet program, steadily progressing through fleet management support. • Bakhita Al Mheiri entered the airline as a cadet pilot in 2011, inspired by previous female aviators. • Program Success: Both captains are graduates of the Emirates Group’s National Cadet Pilot Program, an initiative dedicated to training and empowering UAE nationals. _Note: While this development highlights global aviation talent and gender diversity milestones, it carries no direct statistical impact on Sri Lanka's domestic macroeconomic indicators._