Almas Group appoints two new directors

Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma

Abdul Majeed Mohamed Risvi

Almas Holdings Group has announced the appointment of Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma and Abdul Majeed Mohamed Risvi as new Directors to the ultimate parent company’s Board to continue the journey of growth and prosperity. 

The duo will join the rest of the Board comprising Imtiaz Buhardeen (Group Chairman), Ruzly Shamsudeen, Shameer Buhardeen, Fathima Rizwana Buhardeen and Shakir Buhardeen (Alternate Director).

Dr. Suriyapperuma has academic qualifications as well as industry expertise in multiple areas. He holds a PhD on Business Performance and Business Networking, obtained his Masters (MBA) from the Post Graduate Institute of Management Sri Lanka, held Fellow Memberships from ACCA (UK), CIMA (UK), CPA (Australia) and as an Associate member of CIM (UK). He has 28 years of working experience in three continents (Africa, Australia and Asia). His working experience ranges from designing and implementing policies impacting the national level, spearheading initiatives of the World Bank DB project relating to Global Doing Business ranking, working in public listed companies, government sector engagements and holding multiple board positions in companies both in developed and developing countries.

During his tenure with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka for nine years he functioned as the Director Corporate Affairs. In addition, he has performed as Acting Director Supervision, Acting Director Capital Market Development and Acting for the Director General as the Officer in Charge. Dr. Suriyapperuma is currently serving as a member of the National Standards Committee on Quality Assurance and Accreditation. Many policy initiatives spearheaded by himself have been approved by the Parliament during National Budget proposals and he has successfully implemented them with the relevant agencies. 

He was an appointed member in many committees with national significance such as Prime Minister appointed member to the World Bank Doing Business Ranking Committee, Member of ROSC Committee – Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes of the World Bank, Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) participant in Task Force Member on Anti Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing, Nominee to the National Financial Inclusion Strategy, Nominee to the Committee on Sustainable Financial Solutions, Member of the Sri Lanka Statutory Accounting Standards Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and SLAASMB.

Majeed is a serial entrepreneur and accomplished professional who has seen through successful transformations of medium-sized enterprises into large conglomerates in Maldives, Seychelles and Sri Lanka. He is a highly respected veteran in the international hospitality sector with highly regarded achievements for the largest resort owner and operator in the Maldives, the Universal Group.  He was also involved very much in the frontlines of managing many international business relationships of the Group which included the Hilton International, Starwood Hotel Inc., International Finance Corporation (IFC), HSBC Asia Pacific, etc. Majeed was also instrumental and part of the team that set up the ultra-exclusive pioneering resort “The W” in the Maldives, the first W Resorts in the World.

“The two new esteemed board members will contribute their skills and tenacity at the highest levels of group operations and guide the holding company to fulfil the ambitious future envisaged,” said Almas Holdings Chairman Imtiaz Buhardeen.

Founded in 1984, Almas Group has grown organically as well as through acquisitions of business ventures to become an active participant in the business segments it represents. Almas Group has made significant investments through the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) including representation among the top 20 shareholders of many listed entities. The most recent acquisition by Almas Holdings was the conclusion of the 100% share transfer of Assetline Securities Ltd., which is one of the founding members of the Colombo Stock Exchange.