Lanka Sathosa announces new leadership team

Lanka Sathosa Limited’s Management Team. Seated from left - Senior Manager – Procurement Lakshman Kumara, Chief Executive Officer Anura Pandithage, Chairman Dr. Nushad M. Perera, DGM – Finance Susiri Perera, and Senior Accountant Dilantha Perera. Standing (from left) - DGM - Information Technology Sumathi Hewavitharana, Senior Manager – Engineering Chamila Suresh Botheju, Senior Manager—HR and Admin Sisira Gunawardana, DGM – Procurement Thushara Perera, Chief Legal Officer / Board Secretary Amitha Jayatunga, DGM – Operations Janak Sanjeewa Badugama, DGM - Human Resource and Admin P.W. Primal, DGM – Marketing Mewan Adihetty,  DGM - Internal Audit B.T.K. Nissanka and DGM – Engineering Priyantha Godagama 

• Retd. Major Anura Pandithage appointed CEO; four new Deputy General Managers added

Lanka Sathosa, the country’s largest retail network business, announced a host of senior leadership appointments to spearhead its ongoing transformation as it strives to deliver greater value to the nation during this global health and financial crisis.

Major Anura Pandithage (Retd.) has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lanka Sathosa with effect from 21 September. He served in the Sri Lanka Army for 20 years. Post his retirement from the Army, he has held management roles in Human Resources and Administration at several leading private sector enterprises. A graduate of the Army Command and Staff College for Defense Management (Psc), he holds an MBA from the Open University of Sri Lanka. He is a Chartered Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) and holds a Diploma for Human Resource Management from the same institute.

Lanka Sathosa also welcomed four new Deputy General Managers (DGMs) to head its Human Resources (HR) and Administration, Engineering, Information Technology and Internal Audit functions with effect from 11 September.

Commenting on the appointments, Lanka Sathosa Chairman Dr. Nushad M. Perera said: “Lanka Sathosa has always been committed to serving Sri Lankans around the island, offering everyday essentials at economical prices. We have been striving relentlessly to support consumers, small business owners, local manufacturers and farmers during this global health and financial crisis. By strengthening our senior management team with the appointment of these experienced leaders, I look forward to seeing Lanka Sathosa transform Sri Lanka’s retail space and deliver greater value to our customers and all other stakeholders.”

Wing Commander Primal Paragahawatta (Retd.) joined the retail chain as DGM - HR and Admin. He served in the Sri Lanka Air Force’s Directorates of Administration and Provost for 21 years, holding key positions in HR & Administration, Security, Investigation and Ceremonial Duties during his tenure. 

Priyantha Godegama, who has over 17 years of experience in Civil Engineering, will be leading Lanka Sathosa’s Engineering team as DGM – Engineering. Prior to this, he had served as the Project Director of the Urban Development Authority’s Urban Regeneration Project and Director - Civil Engineering at an Engineering and Construction company in the private sector.

Sumathi Hewavitharana has been appointed DGM - Information Technology. He has over 25 years of experience in the field of IT, having served as Functional Consultant at WCS Lanka (Private) Limited; Consultant, Manager and Business Analyst at Nestle Lanka PLC and IT Manager at Maliban Biscuit Manufactories (Private) Limited.

B. Thusitha Kumara Nissanka has come on board as the DGM - Internal Audit. A practicing Chartered Accountant, he brings with him over 17 years of experience in Corporate Finance in the private sector.

Lanka Sathosa is all set to embark on the next phase of its growth journey with these appointments. The retail chain will continue to strive to help reduce the cost of living for consumers by offering essential commodities at affordable prices, while also supporting SMEs by connecting them to the national demand chain through its island wide outlet network. Lanka Sathosa is the largest retail network business in Sri Lanka, with over 420 outlets islandwide and over 4500 employees. Established in 2005 under the name Lanka Sathosa with the aim of delivering food security to the mass consumer, the retail chain’s new vision reflects its perceptions of its current target consumers, with lower and lower-middle income households, which is a price setter for the nation. Guided by its trusted leadership team, Lanka Sathosa spearheads the sustainable development of the food industry in Sri Lanka.