Blue Diamonds appoints three finance professionals to Board

Blue Diamonds Jewellery Worldwide PLC has appointed Monali Gunatunga, Manoj Ruwan Kumara and Harsha Prageeth Perera to its Board as Independent Non-Executive Directors.

Gunatunga is a senior finance professional with over 19 years of experience across multiple sectors including marine, education, retail, manufacturing, and business process outsourcing. She currently serves in a senior finance leadership role and has held progressive positions such as Finance Controller, Finance Manager, and Finance Consultant in reputed organisations.

She holds a Master of Professional Accounting from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, an MBA from the University of Suffolk (UK), and a B.Sc. in Business Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. She is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (ACMA, CGMA – UK) and an Associate Member of AAT Sri Lanka.

Gunatunga possesses strong expertise in financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, tax and regulatory compliance, cash flow management, internal controls, audit coordination, and ERP systems. Her extensive professional experience and financial acumen will add significant value to the Board’s oversight, governance, and strategic decision-making processes.

Perera is a senior finance and governance professional with over 20 years of experience in audit, taxation, corporate finance, company secretarial practice, and financial management, serving both listed and private sector entities in Sri Lanka. He is currently reading for the Final Subject CL-25-3 (Risk, Governance and Audit) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) and is a Member of the Association of Accounting Technicians of Sri Lanka (AAT Sri Lanka). He has completed the Licentiate and Professional level training requirements of CA Sri Lanka, including training at HLB Edirisinghe and Co., Chartered Accountants, and Mercantile Investments Ltd., Colombo.

Since April 2011, he has been engaged in independent practice as a Registered Auditor, Tax Consultant, Company Secretary, and Financial Consultant, advising clients on statutory compliance, financial reporting, taxation, and corporate governance. Prior to this, he served as Finance Manager at Schneider Electric Lanka Ltd. and previously as Finance Manager of the Bettans Group of Companies, overseeing finance functions across multiple entities. He also served as Assistant Finance Manager at Taprobane Holdings Ltd., the parent company of Browns Group PLC, where he was responsible for internal controls, financial reporting, management accounts, and financial analysis.

Kumara is a highly qualified finance professional with over ten years of experience in audit, finance, taxation, and corporate governance. He currently serves as the Managing Partner of Mallikarachchi Associates, a Chartered Accountancy and Consultancy firm.

An Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ACA), holding a Bachelor of Science in Accounting (Special) from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Currently reading for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the same university, with additional professional training in forensic accounting through a specialized certification awarded by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka.

Kumara’s background in both investigative accounting and strategic leadership is expected to significantly bolster the Board’s oversight capabilities. His appointment reinforces the company’s commitment to transparency, financial integrity, and the highest standards of corporate governance as required by the listing rules of the Colombo Stock Exchange.