New appointments at Advocata Institute; Murtaza Jafferjee, Dr. Sarath Rajapatirana take up key roles

Dr. Sujata Gamage and Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne also join advisory board

Murtaza Jafferjee, CEO of JB Securities, has taken up the role of Chairperson of the Advocata Institute.

Murtaza Jafferjee

Dr. Sarath Rajapatirana

Dr. Sujata Gamage

Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne

In his new role, Jafferjee would play a leading role in fundraising, governance and act as an advocate of the institute’s mission and its policy program.   

Murtaza Jafferjee is an investment professional with over 25 years of industry experience. He is currently an elected director of the Colombo Stock Exchange and is the lead independent director of Serendib Hotels PLC. He was a past president of the CFA Society of Sri Lanka, the local member society of the CFA Institute and also held the advocacy chair whose responsibilities include promoting good ethical practices. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of NSW, Australia and a Masters in Financial Economics from the University of Colombo. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Dr. Sarath Rajapatirana, an eminent economist has also taken up the role of Chair of the Academic program of the Institute. Dr. Rajapatirana is a widely published scholar who has worked across the world consulting with leading international organisations such as the World Bank, World Trade Organisation, ITC in Geneva, and the International Cooperative Alliance in Latin America. He is a former economic advisor to the President of Sri Lanka and has advised governments and policymakers around the world.

A graduate from the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, Dr. Rajapatirana has two Master’s degrees in economics, from the University of Massachusetts and the University of Minnesota. He did his doctoral studies at the University of Minnesota (ABD) and has a Ph.D. from the University of Colombo. Dr. Rajapatirana is the author and co-author of six books and 55 academic papers in referenced publications.

In his new role at Advocata, Dr. Rajapatirana will oversee the academic program of the institute, contributing to research and helping to establish a network of fellows and associates to increase the academic output of the Institute.   

Advocata also strengthened its board of advisors with two new appointments. Dr. Sujata Gamage, the former Director-General of Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission of Sri Lanka joins as a member of the board of advisors. She is currently a senior research fellow at LIRNEasia, with wide experience in North America in policy research and academic roles. Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne also joins the Advocata Institute as an advisor. Prof. Abeyratne is a professor of economics at the University of Colombo and a senior fellow of the International University of Japan.  He is a widely published economist with expertise in Macroeconomics, trade and international development.

“We are thrilled and very fortunate to get on board these distinguished personalities,” said Advocata COO Dhananath Fernando. “Their kind contributions will help us strengthen our operations, impact and continue to be a strong voice for economic freedom and policies that promote prosperity to the citizens of Sri Lanka.”

Advocata’s board of directors, chairs and advisors serve the institution in a volunteer capacity.  For full profiles on Advocata’s scholars visit www.advocata.org/about.