Chandana Guniyangoda resumes duties as new Chairman of People’s Bank

Chandana Guniyangoda 

Chandana Guniyangoda assumed duties as the new Chairman of People’s Bank yesterday at a ceremony held at the bank’s head office. The occasion was attended by the former Chairman Prof. Narada Fernando, Board members, General Manager/CEO and members of the bank’s corporate management.

The bank said Guniyangoda’s appointment marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s State-owned banking sector. He becomes the first Chairman of a state-owned licensed commercial bank to be appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director under the strengthened governance framework introduced following Sri Lanka’s IMF-supported reform program. 

The framework, developed through reforms undertaken in consultation with the IMF and World Bank and reinforced by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s Banking Act Directions No. 05 of 2024 on Corporate Governance for Licensed Banks, introduced more rigorous criteria for determining Director independence and strengthened the role of independent oversight at Board level. 

This milestone therefore represents an important step in strengthening public confidence in the governance of People’s Bank and in ensuring that the bank continues to be managed in the best interests of its customers, stakeholders and the country.

A distinguished finance professional with over 28 years of experience, including 19 years in commercial banking, Guniyangoda brings extensive expertise in finance, strategic planning, business transformation, process re-engineering, cost optimisation, human resource management, asset and liability management, risk management and regulatory reporting.

Guniyangoda is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (FCA) and the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (FCMA). His academic qualifications include a Master of Business Administration in Banking & Finance (MBA) from the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), University of Sri Jayewardenepura; a Master of Arts in Financial Economics (MAFE) from the University of Colombo; and a B.Sc. in Business Administration (Special) from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He also holds an Advanced Certificate in Banking & Finance (ACBF) from the Institute of Bankers & IFS, London.

Throughout his career, Guniyangoda has held a range of senior strategic and managerial positions across the banking and corporate sectors. His professional experience includes serving as Assistant Vice President – Finance, Strategic Planning & Business Support at NDB Bank PLC and as Director of Development Holdings Ltd., a joint venture between NDB Bank and the Export Development Board. 

Prior to this, he served at Sampath Bank PLC as an ALCO Officer and Senior Executive – Finance and Planning. He commenced his professional career as a Trainee Graduate at Aitken Spence PLC. More recently, he provided specialist expertise in finance and administration in the restructuring of institutional frameworks within the agriculture and plantation sectors under the Agriculture Modernisation Project of the World Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture.

In addition to his extensive corporate and banking experience, Guniyangoda currently serves as Independent Chairman of People’s Insurance PLC, Group Chief Financial Officer of MG Group of Companies, a Board Member of New Vithanakande Tea Factory Ltd., and Non-Executive Chairman of CCPI Management Holdings Ltd. He is also an Honorary Member of the Board of Management of the CA Sri Lanka SAB Campus.

With his extensive experience in banking, finance, corporate governance and strategic management, Guniyangoda assumes the Chairmanship of People’s Bank with a wealth of knowledge and expertise, further strengthening the Bank’s leadership as it continues to support Sri Lanka’s economic development and serve millions of customers across the country.