Nihal new Chairman at Seylan Bank, Ishara Deputy

President’s Counsel and Seylan Bank Senior Independent Director Nihal Jayamanne, assumed duties as its new Chairman, while Ishara Nanayakkara took up position as Deputy Chairman of the Bank.  

Nihal Jayamanne PC is an eminent lawyer and a senior President’s Counsel and holds key offices in the fields of law, including Law Commission of Sri Lanka Chairman, Company Law Advisory Commission Chairman, Law College foundation Chairman and as a member of the board of trustees of the Judicial Infrastructure Maintenance Trust.

A former President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Vice President of SAARCLAW and a member of the National Police Commission of Sri Lanka, Jayamanne has also been a member of the council of legal education, a member of the advisory council of Jurists of the Asia Pacific forum for the advancement of human rights and Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka Commissioner.

Jayamanne was one of the first four Directors who were appointed to the Board on 30 December 2008, with the intervention of the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka when it suspended and immediately ordered the resumption of business under the new Board.

HE also serves on the boards of Sri Lankan Airlines and Sri Lankan Catering.

Ishara Nanayakkara is an astute businessman who holds directorships in many Corporates and conglomerates. He ventured in to the financial service sector through his investment in LOLC.

He has extensive exposure in the financial services sector through his active involvement in the LOLC group as the Deputy Chairman, Lanka ORIX Finance PLC Director, Commercial Leasing and Finance Chairman and as one of the founding Directors of LOLC Micro Credit, the largest private sector micro finance institution in the country.

Nanayakkara is a Director of PRASAC, the largest micro finance company in Cambodia and plays an active role in the micro finance community of the region.

He is also a Director in Brown and Company, a 135 year old conglomerate with leading market position in trade, leisure, manufacturing, consumer appliances and agriculture equipment.

As a Director of Sierra Construction and Agstar Fertilisers, his vision is to contribute to the growth sectors of the economy.

He was appointed to the Board of Seylan Bank on 24 November 2009, and also serves as the Chairman of the sustainability committee.