Aravinda Perera to steer Siyapatha Finance as Chairman

Siyapatha Finance PLC, a fully owned subsidiary of Sampath Bank PLC, announced the appointment of M.Y. Aravinda Perera as its Chairman, effective 7 October. Formally, Perera was functioned as a Director of Siyapatha Finance Ltd.

Prior to this appointment, Perera played a fundamental role at Sampath Bank as the Managing Director from 1 January 2012, until his retirement in September 2016. With over 30 years of experience in the banking sector, Perera is ranked among the top bankers within the banking industry of Sri Lanka. 

He was the recipient of the ‘CEO Leadership Achievement Award 2016’ by the Asian Banker, and was also honoured with the prestigious ‘Platinum Honors – 2014’ awarded by The Postgraduate Institute of Management Alumni (PIMA) of Sri Jayewardenepura University. 

At present Perera is a Director of SC Securities Ltd., a subsidiary of Sampath Bank, and he is an Independent Non-Executive Director of Hayleys PLC and the Chairman of the Audit Committee of Hayleys PLC. 

Perera’s experience further includes service as a Director of the Colombo Stock Exchange, member of the Board of Directors of Hayleys Industrial Solution Ltd. and Fentons Ltd., former Director of Lanka Financial Services Bureau Ltd. and a governing Board Director of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka. He also represents Sampath Bank as a Director of Lanka Bangla Finance Ltd. in Bangladesh. 

With proficiency in leading consumer and technology businesses, working in regulated trades, his finance background and international perspective, Perera aims to strengthen Siyapatha Finance as an independent leasing subsidiary of Sampath Bank and enhance its responsible growth approach to create value for all stakeholders.  

A member of the Institute of Engineers – Sri Lanka (MIESL) and a Chartered Engineer, he holds an MBA from The Postgraduate Institute of Management. He is also a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) (FCMA), and a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers – Sri Lanka (FIB). 

Siyapatha Finance PLC has the following members as Non-Executive Non Independent Directors: Channa P. Palansuriya, Mohan A. Abeynaike, Sunil G. Wijesinha, Parakrama M. Asoka Sirimane, Dr. H.S. Dilanjan Soysa, W.M. Prashantha Lal De Alwis, Ranjith Samaranayake, Lasith Tharaka Ranwala and K.M. Saman Priyantha Herath.