Board of Directors

Mr Rohan Pathirage

Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director

Mr Rohan Pathirage was appointed as Director to the Board on 10 July 2020.

Qualifications

An Attorney-at-Law, Mr Pathirage holds a Law Degree from the University of Colombo and is a Master’s Degree Holder in Bank Management from the Massey University, New Zealand. He is also a holder of a Postgraduate Diploma in Banking.

Positions held/experience

He counts for over 24 years experience across Human Resources, Legal and Administration relating to People’s Bank. Previously as Deputy General Manager – Secretary to the Board of Directors of People’s Bank, a position held from August 2010 up until March 2019, Mr Pathirage provided administrative support to all matters relating to the Bank’s Board of Directors and its various subcommittees. During his tenure as Secretary to the Board of Directors of People’s Bank, he has played a key role to facilitate best practices in governance.

Current positions

Mr Pathirage is currently the Senior Deputy General Manager (Human Resources and Legal) of People’s Bank. In his current role, he oversees the Bank’s 10,000 plus strong work force and manages its Senior Executive recruitments in line with its HR requirements. In addition, he also leads the Bank’s 70 member legal team. Chairman – People’s Leasing Havelock Properties Limited, Director – People’s Micro-commerce Limited, Director – Lankan Alliance Finance Limited, Bangladesh.

Mr Azzam A Ahamat

Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director

Mr Azzam A Ahamat was appointed as Director to the People’s Leasing & Finance PLC Board on 30 December 2019.

Qualifications

He is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (United Kingdom), a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (United Kingdom) and a Fellow Member of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka. He is a Technical Specialist of the Institute of Risk Management (United Kingdom), a Certified Practicing Accountant (AUST.) and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (United Kingdom).

Positions held/experience

Mr Ahamat has close to 18 years experiences both locally and internationally across strategic financial management, alternate investments and risk. His prior employers include some of the largest multi-national professional service firms and other tier I service providers across respective market spaces.

Current positions

Mr Ahamat functions as the Head of Finance of People’s Bank since 3 January 2017. He is Director in Lankan Alliance Finance Limited, Bangladesh.

Mr Sudarshan Ahangama

Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director

Mr Sudarshan Ahangama was appointed as Director to the Board on 19 February 2020.

Qualifications

Mr Sudarshan Ahangama is a fellow member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka.

Positions held/experience

He has served on the board of MAS Holdings as its Group Finance Director for the past 15 years. He had responsibilities for the finance function in 17 countries across multiple regions. He has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, cross border transactions, venture capital investments and organisational restructuring work which he handled in addition to his core role in finance for the Group.

Prior to that he was with the John Keells Group for a period of 14 years. He served as Managing Director of John Keells Stock Brokers and was a member of several of the financial services boards of the John Keells Group. He was also responsible for setting up the software out-sourcing and activities at John Keells.

Current positions

Director People’s Bank, Director Lankan Alliance Finance Limited, Bangladesh and holds several Directorates in MAS Group of companies.

Mr Clive Fonseka

Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director

Mr Clive Fonseka was appointed as Director to the Board on 19 February 2020.

Qualifications

Mr Clive Fonseka is a fellow of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Postgraduate Institute of Management of University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He has received a Distinction for the ACI Dealing Certificate. He is also a Certified Member (CMA) of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Australia.

Positions held/experience

He counts more than 26 years experience in Treasury Management. Prior to joining People’s Bank in 2002, he served at American Express Bank and Standard Chartered Bank. Furthermore he has acted as a Chief Examiner for Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka’s IABF/DABF Examinations.

Current positions

He is currently the Head of Treasury and Investment Banking at People’s Bank. He was appointed as the President of the Association of Primary Dealers in July 2018 and acts in this position at present. He is a member of National Payment Council and Financial System Stability Consultative Committees of Central Bank of Sri Lanka. He is the Chairman of People’s Leasing Property Development Limited.

Mr Chanura Wijetillake

Non-Executive, Independent Director

Mr Chanura Wijetilake was appointed as Director to the Board on 19 February 2020.

Qualifications

Mr Wijetillake is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Bankers – Sri Lanka and also an Associate Member of the International Professional Managers Association (UK). He has also obtained his Diploma in Management from ICFAI University, India.

Positions held/experience

Mr Chanura Wijetillake has over 35 years experience in the Banking Sector, out of which a total of 14 years in the Senior Management and the Corporate Management at the Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, covering the areas of Lending, Compliance and Branch Administration. He has been instrumental in implementing a risk-based compliance framework and risk based compliance audit system at the Bank.

He has also successfully developed and executed strategies to maximise the sales and profit growth in 2 large Regions of the Bank for over 5 years. He has been a member of the Bank’s Internal Resource faculty for its training programmes conducted for Branch Managers and the Credit Officers on Lending.

He has represented the Bank and participated in several training programmes in Singapore, Bangladesh, China and Germany during his long career at the Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC. He has also functioned as the Assistant General Manager – Compliance at Softlogic Finance PLC for a while after his retirement from Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC.

Mr Asoka Bandara

Non-Executive, Independent Director

Mr Asoka Bandara was appointed as Director to the Board on 19 February 2020.

Qualifications

He holds a Post Gradutae Diploma of Marketing (CIM-UK), and MBA (University of Colombo)

Positions held/experience

Mr Asoka Bandara has over 30 years of expertise in demand generation function and business development in MNC’s and leading local corporates. He has been a MANCOM member of Nestlè Lanka PLC and Group Managing Director of Delmege Forsyth Group of companies. His core competencies include building of branded businesses and development of commercial teams.

Current positions

Director Litro Gas Lanka Ltd., Litro Gas Terminal Lanka Private Ltd., Buildmart Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. Currently operates management consultancy services for leading local conglomerates. As a Trainer, he specialises on developing team leadership and personality development and imparts his knowledge via MBA teaching on topics i.e. leadership, strategic management and advanced marketing and sales management. He also acts as a key negotiator by leveraging his issue management skills for leading Industry bodies’ vs. key stakeholders.

Ms Coralie Pietersz

Non-Executive, Senior Independent Director

Ms Coralie Pietersz was appointed as Director to the Board on 19 February 2020. The effective date of appointment is 1 March 2020.

Qualifications

Ms Coralie Pietersz is an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a fellow member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka. She holds a BSc (Honours) degree in Physics from the University of Sussex and an MBA from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.

Positions held/experience

Ms Coralie Pietersz was the Finance Director of Finlays Colombo Limited, Hapugastenne Plantations PLC and Udapussellawa Plantations PLC.

Current positions

She serves as an Independent Director on the Board of Seylan Bank PLC and Bogala Graphite Lanka PLC, Compass Advisory Services (Pvt) Ltd. and Tambapanni Academic Publishers (Private) Limited. She is a Member of the Council of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka.

Ms Lakmini Dilrukshi Kottegoda

Company Secretary

Ms Lakmini Kottegoda was appointed as the Company Secretary to the Board on 30 July 2018.

Qualifications

Attorney-at-Law with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law.

Current positions

Company Secretary of People’s Insurance PLC, People’s Leasing Fleet Management Limited, People’s Leasing Property Development Limited, People’s Leasing Havelock Properties Limited,and People’s Micro-commerce Ltd.