Priyantha Wijesekera wins Innovation Leadership Award

• Softlogic Finance CEO lauded for contribution towards social change

Softlogic Finance CEO Priyantha Wijesekera

Softlogic Finance PLC Chief Executive Officer Priyantha Wijesekera was honoured with the ‘Innovation Leadership Award’ at the Sri Lanka Innovation Leadership Awards 2020, for his contribution towards

social change through exemplary leadership. 

Presented by the Asian Confederation of Business recently in partnership with World Innovation Congress and Stars of the Industry Group, the Sri Lanka Innovation Leadership Awards are granted to individuals behind an institution, dedicated to building future leaders through leadership and innovation. 

Commenting on the recognition, Wijesekera said: “I’m grateful to be receiving this award and to have affected the lives of so many Sri Lankans through transforming traditional financial products into impactful, innovative offerings. Throughout my career, I have pursued opportunities to create meaningful change in the industry, and corporate culture. My next goal is to make the financial industry become an inclusive space, especially for the youth by forging ahead with a groundbreaking cocktail of digitised product offerings that deliver unparalleled value.”

The selection process for the awards involved a research cell that shortlists individuals based on their extraordinary work that has impacted the lives of many. Candidates were then shortlisted and reviewed by an independent jury compromising of senior leaders, researchers and academicians from around the world. The evaluation and decision to award the recognition was based on the candidate’s strategic perspective, process management, future orientation, track record, integrity and ethics, ability for sustainable and time and cost of implementation.

“I hope to continue to inspire and empower future leaders of our country to think out of the box, take risks and mostly importantly, be a part of a bigger cause that will impact our society,” Wijesekera added.

Wijesekera, an Attorney-at-law and a Solicitor by profession, has extensive knowledge in shipping law and commercial arbitration in the field of banking and finance. With over 20 years of experience in banking and financial services products, he is renowned for his impactful work in transforming the finance sector, and was also a key player in introducing digital financial tools that drove technological innovations in the leasing industry.

Having held key management positions at a prominent Sri Lankan bank prior to being appointed as the Chief Executive Officer at Softlogic Finance earlier this year, Priyantha Wijesekera is credited with the revolutionary ‘Green Leasing’ initiative that helped popularise hybrid vehicles in Sri Lanka, ultimately promoting clean driving. He was also the brains behind the first-ever ‘On-site Leasing’ facility in Sri Lanka, an end to end lease process conducted at the vehicle sales center, thus reducing the physical and logistical efforts on the part of the buyer, the seller and the financing partner. 

Softlogic Finance is a registered finance company under the Finance Business Act No. 42 of 2011 as well as a Specialised Leasing Company licensed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka under the Finance Leasing Act No. 56 of 2000.