Board of Directors

Mr. Sanath Manatunge

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC

Mr. Sanath Manatunge is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. He also holds fellowships with the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka, the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka, and the Chartered Management Institute (UK), and is a member of CPA Australia. He holds an MBA from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and an MSc in Sustainable Management from the UK with 36 years of banking experience, he has held several senior leadership roles, including Deputy General Manager – Corporate Banking and Chief Risk Officer. Prior to his current appointment as Managing Director and CEO in 2022, he served as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Manatunge currently serves as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association. He also holds directorships with Commercial Development Company PLC and Commercial Bank of Maldives Private Limited.

Mr. Hemantha Gunetilleke

Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nations Trust Bank PLC

Mr. Hemantha Gunetilleke is an experienced banker with a broad international background in corporate banking, credit risk, and international trade finance. His career began at Standard Chartered Bank Colombo in 1997, before moving to HSBC where he held several leadership positions, including Head of Commercial Banking in Colombo, Country Head in the Maldives, and Global Head of Lending Product Management for Global Commercial Banking in Hong Kong.

He joined Nations Trust Bank in 2016 to lead Corporate Banking, was appointed Deputy CEO in 2020, and became CEO in 2022.

Mr. Ramesh Jayasekara

Director and Chief Executive Officer, Seylan Bank PLC

Mr. Ramesh Jayasekara brings over 25 years of distinguished banking and financial management experience, both locally and internationally. Since joining Seylan Bank in 2011 as Chief Financial Officer, he has held several senior roles, including Chief Risk Officer, Deputy General Manager of Corporate Banking, Senior Deputy General Manager, Chief Operating Officer, and Deputy CEO. He was appointed Director and Chief Executive Officer in May 2023. Mr. Jayasekara also chairs Seylan Developments PLC and Lanka Financial Services Bureau Ltd and serves on the Board of the Credit Information Bureau. His earlier experience includes senior roles at BNP Paribas Middle East Region, HSBC Sri Lanka, and KPMG Sri Lanka. He holds a First-Class Honours degree from the University of Colombo and is an associate member of several professional accounting and management bodies.

Mr. Indrajith Boyagoda

Secretary General, Sri Lanka Banks’ Association

Mr. Indrajith Boyagoda brings over 30 years of banking experience to his role as Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association, which includes ex-officio directorships on Lanka Financial Services Bureau Ltd and observer status on Lanka Pay Private Ltd. board. His career spans banking operations, credit, treasury, capital markets, investment banking, audit, and risk review in Sri Lanka and abroad. He graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry from University of Peradeniya, holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Economics, and an M.A. in Economics from University of Colombo. Prior to his current role, Mr. Boyagoda served in senior roles at Citibank, Samba Financial Group, and Nations Trust Bank, as well as lecturing and consulting.

Mr. Niranjan C. Figurado

Chief Country Officer & Head of Global Emerging Markets, Deutsche Bank AG Colombo Branch

Mr. Niranjan C. Figurado is a seasoned Investment Banking professional with over 35 years of international financial markets experience. Joining Deutsche Bank in 1986 as its first apprentice in Sri Lanka, he has covered key areas including Commercial and Investment Banking, Finance, Operations, Audit, and Risk Management. Mr. Figurado has been a Management Board Member of Deutsche Bank Sri Lanka since 2010, appointed Branch Manager in 2019, and elevated to Chief Country Officer in January 2023. He is an active member of the Sri Lanka Forex Association and has contributed to several banking and financial sector development committees, particularly focusing on capital markets. Since 2023, he serves as a Board Member of the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association.

Mr. Damith Pallewatte

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Hatton National Bank PLC

Mr. Damith Pallewatte is a distinguished banking professional with over 28 years of experience, specializing in risk management and banking leadership. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and a Bachelor of Science in Management from the London School of Economics. At Hatton National Bank, he has held several key roles including Acting CEO, Chief Risk Officer, Deputy General Manager – Wholesale Banking, and Chief Information Security Officer, contributing significantly to the bank’s strategic growth and governance. Prior to joining HNB, he served as Chief Risk Officer at Nations Trust Bank PLC.

He currently serves on multiple boards, including as Chairman of HNB Investment Bank, Lanka Ventures PLC, and LVL Energy Fund PLC, and as Director of LankaPay, Lanka Financial Services Bureau Ltd, and the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka, where he is Vice President.

Mr. Kelum Edirisinghe

Director and Chief Executive Officer, National Development Bank PLC

Mr. Kelum Edirisinghe is the Director and CEO of National Development Bank PLC, bringing over 30 years of banking leadership. Before joining NDB, he had a distinguished tenure with HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives, holding multiple senior roles across commercial banking, branch management, fund services, debt restructuring, and enterprise-wide risk management. Mr. Edirisinghe holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manchester, an MBA from Edith Cowan University, and professional certifications including a Diploma in Financial Management and Treasury and Foreign Exchange Operations.
He also serves on several boards within the NDB Group and is a Director of the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (Guarantee) Limited and a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee of the Centre for Banking Studies of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

Mrs. Shashi Kandambi Jassim

General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, National Savings Bank

Ms. Shashi Kandambi Jassim is a seasoned banker with over 35 years of experience. She holds a Master’s degree from the Postgraduate Institute of Management and has completed executive leadership training at Harvard Business School. Prior to joining NSB as CEO, she served as Senior Deputy General Manager at Sampath Bank, overseeing International Banking, Corporate Credit, Corporate Finance, and Treasury.

She currently serves on the boards of the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association, Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka, NSB Fund Management Company, and Lanka Financial Services Bureau Ltd., and is Chairperson of the SWIFT User Group and Financial Ombudsman Sri Lanka. She also represents NSB on the board of the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI).

A former President of the Association of Professional Bankers, she has received several leadership accolades, including the Global CEO Leadership Excellence Award and the Pinnacle People’s Best CEO of the Year 2024. She is a frequent speaker at industry forums, most recently at SIBOS 2024 in Beijing.

Mr. Clive Fonseka

Chief Executive Officer / General Manager, People’s Bank

Mr. Clive Fonseka is a seasoned banking professional with over 29 years of expertise, primarily in Treasury Management. He is a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka and holds an MBA from the Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Mr. Fonseka has also earned a Distinction for the ACI Dealing Certificate and is a Certified Member (CMA) of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Australia. Over his career, he has contributed significantly to Sri Lanka’s financial sector, serving on key committees such as the National Payment Council and Financial System Stability Consultative Committee. His prior experience includes senior roles at American Express Bank and Standard Chartered Bank. Since joining People’s Bank in 2002, he has held senior leadership roles in Foreign Exchange, Investment Banking, and Money Market operations. He also serves on the boards of People’s Leasing & Finance PLC, LankaPay Private Limited, the Credit Information Bureau of Sri Lanka, The Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association. He was appointed CEO/General Manager in August 2023, leading the bank’s strategic growth and financial performance.

Mr. Bingumal Chandika Thewarathanthri

Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka

Mr. Bingumal Chandika Thewarathanthri was appointed CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka in January 2019 and also leads the bank’s Commercial and Investment Banking business in Sri Lanka. With over 30 years in banking and finance, he has held multiple leadership positions across Sri Lanka and Africa since joining Standard Chartered in 2004. He serves as Vice Chairman of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce for 2023/24 and and is the immediate past Chairman of the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association. Mr. Thewarathanthri holds an MBA from the University of Wales and is a Fellow Chartered Management Accountant (FCMA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).

Mr. Sudesh Kumar Bhatt

Country Head, State Bank of India Sri Lanka

Mr. Sudesh Kumar Bhatt joined State Bank of India in 2002 and has held a variety of senior roles, including CEO of SBI Chicago. His experience spans regional management, credit and forex operations, and personal banking. He has served as Deputy General Manager – NRI Services at the Personal Banking Business Unit (PBBU) at SBI’s Corporate Centre in Mumbai, and previously held the role of Regional Manager for Regional Business Offices II and VII in Lucknow from 2017 to 2021. His international assignments include serving as Manager – Credit & Forex at SBI California between 2012 and 2016. He holds a degree in Science and an MBA in Marketing, and is a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF) as well as a Certified Financial Planner in India.

Mr. Thushara Asuramanna

General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, State Mortgage and Investment Bank

Mr. Thushara Asuramanna is a Chartered Engineer and accomplished banking professional with over 25 years of experience in development and retail banking. His expertise encompasses strategic business management, credit and risk assessment, and customer relationship management. He began his career at National Development Bank PLC and served in key leadership roles at Nations Trust Bank PLC. Since July 2022, he has been General Manager and CEO of State Mortgage and Investment Bank. Academically, he holds a First-Class Honours degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Moratuwa and an MBA with merit from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He is an Associate Member of CIMA (UK) and a Certified Expert in SME Finance from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, Germany. Mr. Asuramanna is also a visiting lecturer and actively contributes to community service through Lionism and sustainability initiatives.