Mr. Kavinda de Zoysa Appointed Chairman of Bank of Ceylon (UK) Ltd

London, April 2025 – Bank of Ceylon (UK) Ltd is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Kavinda de Zoysa as its new Chairman, following the necessary approvals from the relevant financial regulatory authorities in the United Kingdom.

Mr. de Zoysa currently serves as Chairman of Bank of Ceylon (BOC), Sri Lanka’s largest commercial bank, with over 2300 touchpoints, including a network of more than 658 branches and an overseas presence in the United Kingdom, India, the Maldives, and Seychelles.

He brings over 30 years of banking experience, including 25 years in senior leadership roles. His expertise in strategic planning, innovation, and inclusive governance will be instrumental in steering Bank of Ceylon (UK) Ltd through its next phase of growth and transformation.

Prior to his current role, Mr. de Zoysa served as Director and Country Business Head at Citibank N.A. Sri Lanka. During his nearly two-decade tenure at Citi, he was a core member of the Country Management Team and various governance committees. His leadership encompassed the development and execution of strategic plans, landmark corporate finance and capital market transactions, M&A advisory, and promote Digitisation. Prior to joining Citi, he held roles at National Development Bank (NDB), Nations Trust Bank (NTB) and Seylan Bank.

He holds an MBA with merit honours from the University of Colombo, where he was a Gold Medalist. He holds Fellowships with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) UK, the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL), the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) UK, and the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (CMA). He is a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). He has completed executive education in Leading with Data and Analytics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Internationally, Mr. de Zoysa serves on the Global Council of CIMA UK and is a former Chairperson of the MESANA Regional Engagement Group of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA). He has been a visiting lecturer at leading Sri Lankan universities and was a former Board Member of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Sri Lanka.

Bank of Ceylon (UK) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Ceylon, Sri Lanka, and the only Sri Lankan bank in the UK, has a proud legacy of over 75 years in the United Kingdom, serving as the “Gateway to Sri Lanka” for individuals and businesses. Operating as a subsidiary since its incorporation in 2010, and with roots dating back to the establishment of BOC’s London branch in 1949, the bank is headquartered in Devonshire Square in the heart of London’s financial district. It offers a comprehensive suite of services, including wholesale banking, trade finance, correspondent banking, remittances, commercial and buy-to-let loans.

Bank of Ceylon (UK) Ltd’s parent institution, Bank of Ceylon (BOC) Sri Lanka, is the country’s largest and leading state-owned commercial bank. Established in 1939, BOC has been pivotal in driving Sri Lanka’s economic development. In 2024, BOC was named “Bank of the Year – Sri Lanka” by The Banker magazine of the Financial Times Group, and it remains the only Sri Lankan bank ranked among the Top 1000 World Banks.

The Board of Directors of Bank of Ceylon (UK) Ltd., including Mr. Russel Fonseka, General Manager/CEO of Bank of Ceylon and Non-Executive Director of BOC UK Ltd; Mr. Chris Fitzgibbon, Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Board Audit and Compliance Committee (BACC); Mr. Carey Leonard, Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Board Risk Committee (BRC); Mr. Madhawa Dissanayake, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO); and Mr. Sanjeewa Samarakoon, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO), together with the senior management team, extend their warmest congratulations to Mr. Kavinda de Zoysa on his appointment. The Board looks forward to his visionary leadership in guiding the organisation toward continued growth and excellence.