Softlogic Invest leverages on expertise of its Independent Advisory Committee

Sudarshan Ahangama

Thulci Aluwihare

Chethana Ellepola

Shiran Fernando

Softlogic Invest, the Asset Management arm of the Softlogic Group, recently marked the second year of operations in the Unit Trust space in Sri Lanka. The company has strived to offer an innovative approach to making Unit Trust Funds accessible to a whole new generation of aspirational young investors. 

The company has enabled technology in a meaningful manner to accumulate the largest number of clients (43% of new clients) in the Unit Trust industry within two years (end June 2022) of its operations and has its sights set on taking their products to every part of the country, encompassing all segments of the population.

Sri Lanka is currently grappling with the consequences of a volatile macro-economic environment caused by a full-blown forex crisis and a high inflation environment, thereby further driving up interest rates. However, the current low Equity prices on the Colombo Stock Exchange also mean that the market offers attractive opportunities for investment in the long-term. 

Therefore, our experienced team of investment specialists are being challenged to offer the best returns to investors and are working towards strategies that will bring value to their investors with the guidance and expert direction of its Independent Advisory Committee.

The Independent Advisory Committee of the company comprises Sudarshan Ahangama, who oversees all finance functions across the MAS Group whilst simultaneously managing the Treasury, Legal, Audit and Assurance and The Shared Services Functions. He is also a member of the MAS Investments Board, which oversees the non-apparel investments of the Group.

Prior to joining the MAS Group, Ahangama worked at John Keels Holdings (JKH) Group of companies from 1988 to 2004 and he was appointed to the Board of John Keels Stockbrokers and was its Managing Director until 1999.

He is joined by Thulci Aluwihare, who is a member of the Colombo International Financial Centre (CIFC) Steering Committee Task Force to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) within Port City. He is a reputed financial advisor with over 14 years of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) as well as diverse international experience in corporate wealth creation through investment, divestiture, capital raising and restructuring. 

Before joining CHEC Port City, Aluwihare headed the M&A practice at PwC Sri Lanka and Maldives and spearheaded growth in the M&A division.  “At Softlogic Invest, we are navigating this challenging terrain with tact by leveraging on our three-pronged levels of experts through our Board of Directors, Independent Advisory Committee Members and Internal Investment Committee making up a formidable team of investment professionals to manage our funds allowing for timely and well-informed decision making.  “We believe the ethical and professional approach will be inculcated in our investment philosophy, following a rigid control framework that is central to our operations and client relationships,” remarked Softlogic Invest Chief Executive Officer and Director Niloo Jayatilake.

The Committee further benefits from the expertise of Chethana Ellepola, who consults on Strategic Research for Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC) and External Research for SLASSCOM. Previously, Ellepola was a Vice President of M Venture Partners Ltd., Singapore, which is an early-stage investor and partner in innovative and disruptive start-up ventures.  Prior to this, she was the Director of Research at Acuity Stockbrokers Ltd., where she served for nine years, and an Associate Vice President at Amba Research Lanka Ltd.

The Advisory Committee also brings in Shiran Fernando, the current Chief Economist at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and head of its Economic Intelligence Unit. He is engaged in providing policy-level support and strategic advice to the Government by incorporating the views of the private sector to shape the national economic agenda. Prior to joining the Chamber, Fernando was the Lead Economist and Senior Product Head at Frontier Research.