Sampath Bank gets legal luminary Harsha Amarasekera as new Chairman

Harsha Amarasekera PC has assumed duties as the new Non-Executive Non-Independent Chairman at Sampath Bank PLC.

Harsha Amarasekera PC

He succeeds Prof. Malik Ranasinghe who retired after completing the maximum nine-year term on the Board of Sampath Bank. The bank also announced the retirement of Deputy Chairperson Dhara Wijayatilake after completing nine years on the Board. 

The resolution to appoint the 56-year old Harsha as Chairman with effect from 30 August was passed by the Board of Directors of the bank at the meeting held on 27 August. 

He joined the Sampath Bank Board on 18 August as a nominee of Vallibel One PLC, the largest shareholder of Sampath Bank with a 15% stake, and serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director.

Harsha is an eminent legal practitioner in the legal fraternity of Sri Lanka with a wide practice in both the Commercial Courts as well as the Appellate Courts. 

His areas of expertise include Commercial Law, Business Law, Securities Law, Banking Law and Intellectual Property Law. He also has significant experience in arbitration and cross-national disputes. 

He was admitted to the Bar in November 1987 and took oaths as a President’s Counsel in November 2012.

Harsha also has extensive experience in the corporate sector and currently serves as an Independent Director of several leading companies listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange including CIC Holdings PLC (Chairman), Swisstek (Ceylon) PLC (Chairman), Vallibel Power Erathna PLC (Deputy Chairman), Vallibel One PLC, Expolanka Holdings PLC, Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC, Royal Ceramics Lanka PLC, Ambeon Capital PLC and Amaya Leisure PLC. 

He is also the Chairman of CIC Agri Business Ltd. and Swisstek Aluminium Ltd. He was a Director at Amana Bank PLC since its inception until his retirement in February of this year.