THE CORPORATE VANGUARD
Guiding Sri Lanka’s corporate titans
A true leader is the driving force behind an organisation’s vision and mission – he or she guides with foresight, purpose and accountability. Beyond overseeing performance, an effective leader brings together all stakeholders, management and employees under a common direction, instilling trust and collaboration.
It is this calibre of leadership that defines Sri Lanka’s boardroom elite. Topping the coveted list of board leaders for financial year 2024/25 is Asite Talwatte, Chairman of Management Systems (MSL), who holds nine boardroom seats.
Close behind are three prominent figures – respected accounting professional Manil Jayesinghe; Chairman of Hayleys Mohan Pandithage and dynamic businesswoman Brindhiini Perera – each serving on eight boards.
A veteran accountant and distinguished corporate figure, Talwatte ascends to the top of the directors leaderboard this year, surpassing Pandithage to claim the number one position.
Jayesinghe is a reputed corporate leader with over 40 years’ experience in auditing and financial services.
Pandithage is a veteran businessman with decades of experience – he is widely regarded as one of the country’s most influential corporate personalities.
On the other hand, Perera made history in 2022 as the youngest individual to serve as a non-executive director on the boards of listed companies.
In third place is Sarath Ganegoda, Executive Director of Hayleys and Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, holding seven board directorships, while Dr. Ravi Fernando and Dr. Sivakumar Selliah share fourth place, each serving on six boards.
Other notable names on the leaderboard of listed company directors include Chairman of CIC Holdings Harsha Amarasekera, Chairperson of John Keells Holdings Krishan Balendra, Chairman of Assetline Finance Nanda Fernando, Chairperson of Aitken Spence Stasshani Jayawardena, Partner of KPMG Ford Rhodes Thornton & Co Reyaz Mihular, Chairman of Ambeon Capital Sujeewa Mudalige, Partner of KPMG Sri Lanka Yohan Perera, and Chairman of Marino Leisure Holdings Sivakrishnarajah Renganathan – each holding five board seats.
On the women directorates list, 19 female leaders hold two or more board positions, compared to 108 men who feature in the leading male directors’ rankings, each with at least two directorships.
