Board of Directors

People's Leasing & Finance PLC: The Trusted Leader

Mr. Michael Pradeep Amirthanayagam

Mr. Pradeep Amirthanayagam, Non-Executive Non-Independent Director and Chairman, joined on 15 July 2022. He is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK) and an Associate Member of Trinity College of Music (UK) in Speech and Drama. With over 35 years of experience in the advertising industry, he brings extensive expertise in marketing, advertising, and media. Within the People’s Leasing Group, he serves as Chairman of People’s Micro-Commerce Ltd. and Director of both Alliance Finance PLC (Bangladesh) and People’s Insurance PLC.

Outside the group, Mr. Amirthanayagam is the Chairman and Managing Director of Holmes Pollard & Stott (Pvt) Ltd., Vice President of the Society for the Upliftment and Rehabilitation of Leprosy Affected Persons (SUROL), and a Director of the Anura Bandaranaike Foundation. His past roles include being a well-known media personality, trained at the BBC in London, and serving as the 50th President of the Rotary Club of Colombo West.

Mr. Yudhishtran Kanagasabai

Mr. Yudhishtran Kanagasabai, an Independent Non-Executive Director, and Senior Independent Director, joined on 11 August 2023. A Chartered Accountant with over 36 years of experience in accounting, audit, and financial services, he has specialized expertise in mergers and acquisitions. He chairs the Board Audit Committee and the Board Human Resources and Remuneration Committee while serving as a member of the Board Nomination & Governance Committee and the Board Integrated Risk Management Committee.

Beyond the People’s Leasing Group, Mr. Kanagasabai holds key directorships at Cargills Bank PLC, Eswaran Brothers Exports (Pvt) Ltd., and Main Gate (Pvt) Ltd. His previous roles include CEO of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Chairman of South Asia Textiles Ltd., Dankotuwa Porcelain PLC, and Union Bank PLC’s Audit Committee. He has also served as a director at several prominent companies, including Millennium IT ESP (Pvt) Ltd., Ambeon Capital PLC, and Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC, among others.

Mr. Chanura J. Wijetillake

Mr. Chanura J. Wijetillake, a Non-Executive, Independent Director, joined on 19 February 2020. He is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Bankers, Sri Lanka, and an Associate Member of the International Professional Managers Association (UK), holding a Diploma in Management from ICFAI University, India. With over 35 years of experience in the banking industry, including 14 years at senior management levels at Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, he has expertise in lending, compliance, and branch administration. He played a key role in implementing a risk-based compliance framework and audit system at the bank.

Currently, he serves as a Training Resource Person for the Centre for Banking Studies of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and is a member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors. Within the People’s Leasing Group, he chairs the Board Nomination & Governance Committee and serves on various other committees. His past roles include significant contributions to training and compliance management.

Mr. U.L. Asoka Wickramasinghe Bandara

Mr. Asoka Bandara, a Non-Executive, Independent Director, joined on 19 February 2020. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing from CIM (UK) and an MBA from the University of Colombo. With over 36 years of experience, Mr. Bandara has excelled in demand generation and business development across multinational corporations and leading local companies, focusing on brand building and commercial team development.

Within the People’s Leasing Group, he is a member of the Board Audit Committee, the Board Credit Committee, and chairs the Related Party Transactions Review Committee. Outside the group, he serves as the Group Head of Corporate Affairs & Strategy for Maliban Group of Companies and holds directorships at Litro Gas Lanka Ltd., Litro Gas Terminal Lanka Pvt. Ltd., and Buildmart Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. He also operates a management consultancy, acts as a corporate trainer, and holds key leadership roles in several industry bodies, including the Dairy Association of Sri Lanka and the Lanka Confectionery Manufacturers Association. His past roles include senior positions at Nestle Lanka PLC and Delmege Forsyth Group of Companies.

Mr. Pravir Dhanoush Samarasinghe

Mr. Pravir Dhanoush Samarasinghe, an Independent Non-Executive Director, joined on 6 November 2023. He is a Fellow Member of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK), holding a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. With 35 years of professional and commercial experience, including 21 years in senior leadership, he specializes in general management, finance, and accounting.

Within the People’s Leasing Group, Mr. Samarasinghe serves as a member of the Board Audit Committee and the Board Human Resources & Remuneration Committee, and chairs the Board Integrated Risk Management Committee. Outside the group, he is the Director/CEO of several entities under Overseas Realty (Ceylon) PLC, including Mireka Capital Land (Pvt) Ltd, Mireka Homes (Pvt) Ltd, and others. Additionally, he holds directorships at Swadeshi Industrial Works PLC and Keells Food Products PLC. His past leadership roles include chairmanships at the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors, the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, and several other prominent industry bodies.

Mr. Himashe Isuru Balapatabendi

Mr. Himashe Isuru Balapatabendi, a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director, joined on 9 November 2023. He is an Attorney-at-Law with over 20 years of experience in Civil and Commercial Law and holds an LLM from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He currently operates a law chamber specializing in these areas.

Within the People’s Leasing Group, Mr. Balapatabendi serves as the Chairman of People’s Insurance PLC and is a Director at both People’s Bank and Alliance Finance PLC, Bangladesh. He is also a member of the Board Nomination & Governance Committee. Outside the group, he is a Director of Celio Naturals (Pvt) Ltd.

His extensive career includes roles as State Counsel at the Attorney General’s Department, diplomat at the Sri Lankan Embassy in the Hague, and legal advisor to the Minister of Investment Promotions. He has also held directorships at Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation, Seylan Bank, and the Bank of Ceylon, among others. He has played a significant role within the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, including serving as its Secretary for 2022/23 and 2023/24.

Mr. Tishan Manjula Wellalage

Mr. Tishan Manjula Wellalage, a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director, joined on 3 October 2023. As an Attorney-at-Law with over 20 years of experience, he has been actively involved in private practice and played a key role in driving constitutional reforms and enhancing community legal awareness. His efforts have significantly contributed to addressing critical legal issues at the national level on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Within the People’s Leasing Group, Mr. Wellalage serves as a Non-Executive Director of People’s Bank and a Director at Alliance Finance PLC, Bangladesh. He is also a member of the Board Related Party Transactions Review Committee.

His past experience includes serving as a Resource and Research Officer for the Ministry of Justice, where he led the Community-Based Legal Aid Project, and as a Resource Officer for the Resource, Research, and Information Centre (Constitutional Affairs) of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

Mr. A. M. P. M. B. Atapattu

Mr. A. M. P. M. B. Atapattu, a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director, joined on 2 January 2024. He holds a BSc in Management (Public Administration) with Second Class Upper Division honours from the University of Sri Jayawardenapura, a Master’s Degree in International Development from Flinders University, Australia, and postgraduate diplomas in Economic Development and Development Economy from the University of Colombo and the Institute of Development Economies, Japan, respectively. Additionally, he holds a Licentiate Certificate from ICASL, Sri Lanka.

With over 30 years of experience in banking, finance, and business administration, Mr. Atapattu brings a wealth of expertise to his roles. He currently serves as a Director of People’s Bank and as the Secretary to the Ministry of Trade Commerce and Food Security.

His past positions include Senior Additional Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka, Director General of Planning at the Ministry of Education, and Deputy Secretary to the Treasury. He has also served as a Treasury Representative on numerous boards, including People’s Bank and Sri Lankan Airlines.

Mr. Udeni Kusumsiri Samararatne

Mr. Udeni Kusumsiri Samararathne, a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director, joined the organization on 2nd January 2024. He is a seasoned finance professional with over 35 years of experience. Mr. Samararathne holds esteemed qualifications, including an ACCA (UK), CIMA (UK), and an MBA from the Swiss Business School in Zurich. He also possesses a Higher Diploma in International Relations from the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, a Diploma in Professional Diplomacy from the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute, and a Master’s in Financial Economics from the University of Colombo. Currently, he serves as a Director at People’s Bank and Alliance Finance PLC in Bangladesh and chairs People’s Travel Pvt Ltd. His extensive experience spans senior roles at prominent local and multinational companies, including Sri Lanka Telecom PLC, Noritake Japan, and Ferrero Luxembourg. Mr. Samararathne has no memberships in sub-committees within the People’s Leasing Group.

Mr. Clive Fonseka

Mr. Clive Fonseka, a Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director, joined the organization on 19th February 2020. He is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura’s Postgraduate Institute of Management. He is distinguished in the ACI Dealing Certificate and is a Certified Member (CMA) of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Australia.

With over 29 years of experience, Mr. Fonseka has held key roles, including Deputy General Manager at People’s Bank, where he oversaw Foreign Exchange operations, Primary Dealer Unit activities, Investment Banking, and Money Market operations. Currently, he serves as the CEO/General Manager of People’s Bank and Chairman of People’s Leasing Property Development Limited. He also chairs the Board Investment Committee and is a member of the Board Human Resources and Remuneration Committee. His previous experience includes leadership roles at American Express Bank and Standard Chartered Bank.

Mr. Azzam A. Ahamat

Mr. Azzam A. Ahamat, a Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director, joined the organization on 30th December 2019. He is a Fellow Member of both the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK), as well as the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka. He also holds an Associate Membership with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and is a Certified Practicing Accountant (AUST.). Additionally, Mr. Ahamat is a technical specialist at the Institute of Risk Management, London, and a Certified Member of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management, London.

With over 22 years of local and international experience in strategic financial management, alternative investments, and risk, he currently serves as Head of Finance at People’s Bank and Director at People’s Insurance PLC. He chairs the Board Credit Committee and is a member of the Board Investment and Integrated Risk Management Committees. His past roles include working with major multinational professional service firms and Tier I service providers across various sectors.

Board of Directors

Mr. Michael Pradeep Amirthanayagam

Mr. Yudhishtran Kanagasabai

Mr. Chanura J. Wijetillake

Mr. U.L. Asoka Wickramasinghe Bandara

Mr. Pravir Dhanoush Samarasinghe

Mr. Himashe Isuru Balapatabendi

Mr. Tishan Manjula Wellalage

Mr. A. M. P. M. B. Atapattu

Mr. Udeni Kusumsiri Samararatne

Mr. Clive Fonseka

Mr. Azzam A. Ahamat

Mr. Michael Pradeep Amirthanayagam

Mr. Yudy Kanagasabai

Mr. Chanura J. Wijetillake

Mr. U.L. Asoka Wickramasinghe Bandara

Mr. Pravir Dhanoush Samarasinghe

Mr. Himashe Isuru Balapatabendi

Mr. Tishan Manjula Wellalage

Mr. Atapattu Mudiyanselage Priyanka Madduma Bandara Atapattu

Mr. Heenkende Mudiyanselage Udeni Kusumsiri Samararatne

Mr. Clive Fonseka

Mr. Azzam A. Ahamat

Mr. Michael Pradeep Amirthanayagam

Mr. Yudy Kanagasabai

Mr. Chanura J. Wijetillake

Mr. U.L. Asoka Wickramasinghe Bandara

Mr. Clive Fonseka

Mr. Azzam A. Ahamat

Mr. T. M. Wellalage

Mr. Himashe Isuru Balapatabendi

Mr. Pravir Dhanoush Samarasinghe