RDB Bank appoints 2 new Board Directors to steer growth

RDB Bank, the Government owned premier development bank has announced the appointment of its new Directors.

The newly appointed Board brings together a team of experienced professionals with diverse expertise in finance, development, governance, and management to guide the Bank towards achieving its strategic vision of empowering entrepreneurs and financial inclusion.

Asoka Bandara has been appointed as an Independent/Non-Executive Director of RDB Bank with effect from 22 October 2025. He brings over 40 years of extensive experience in the demand generation, including more than two decades in senior management roles, spanning sales leadership, marketing, business development, and corporate strategy.

Bandara’s distinguished career includes long-standing service with the global multinational Nestlé, where he held several strategic leadership roles such as Head of National Sales, Head of two Strategic Business Units in Marketing, and Business Lead for Business Development and the Dairy Value Chain. He later served as Group Managing Director of Delmege Forsyth Limited, a leading Sri Lankan conglomerate, providing overall leadership and strategic direction to the group.

Currently, Bandara serves as Group Head of Corporate Affairs and Strategy at Maliban Biscuit Confectioneries Ltd, one of Sri Lanka’s leading blue-chip confectionery manufacturers. He is also deeply involved in industry and policy advocacy, holding key positions including President of the All-Island Dairy Association (AIDA) under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the National Dairy Consultative Committee under the Ministry of Industries, Secretary of the Lanka Confectionery Manufacturers Association, and Member of the Chamber Food and Beverage Sub-Committee. His previous board experience includes directorships at Litro Gas, Litro Terminals, and service as an Independent Director at People’s Leasing and Finance PLC from 2020 to 2025.

Bandara currently provides KPI-based management consultancy and corporate training to leading Sri Lankan corporates, with expertise in building businesses through brand equity enhancement, strategic planning, and the development of high-performance commercial teams. He is a certified Emotional Intelligence practitioner by Genos International, serving as a contact point for Sri Lanka and the Maldives. His academic credentials include a Postgraduate Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK) and an MBA from the University of Colombo. He has also contributed to academia as a visiting MBA lecturer and examiner in Strategic Management, Advanced Marketing, Sales Management, and Leadership Development.

Wasanthe Nandasiri has been appointed as an Independent/Non-Executive Director of RDB Bank with effect from 27 November 2025. He is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka with over two decades of senior leadership experience in finance, governance, and business transformation across Sri Lanka, South Asia, and other emerging markets.

Nandasiri has held senior leadership positions including Chief Financial Officer and Group CFO roles in large multinational and regional organisations, covering sectors such as manufacturing, infrastructure, trading, and financial services. His professional expertise encompasses finance, treasury, risk management, procurement, IT, strategic planning, and the execution of enterprise-wide transformation initiatives. He has also played a key role in large-scale ERP implementations, business restructuring programs, and performance management frameworks, with significant exposure to complex funding structures and multi-country operations.

He commenced his professional career with Ernst and Young in Sri Lanka and Singapore, where he developed a strong foundation in audit, due diligence, valuation, and advisory services across a broad range of industries, including banking and financial services.

Nandasiri holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Special) degree from the University of Colombo and is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK (ACMA) as well as a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). He brings to the Board deep financial acumen, strong governance expertise, and a strategic, long-term perspective on institutional sustainability and value creation, further strengthening RDB Bank’s leadership as it advances its development mandate.