Asite Talwatte and Roshani Kobbekaduwa join Sunshine Holdings Board

Diversified conglomerate Sunshine Holdings PLC has announced the appointment of top professionals – Chartered Accountant Asite Talwatte and Commercial and Corporate Lawyer Roshani Kobbekaduwa – to its Board of Directors with effect from 30 May. 

The appointment of the two Independent Directors further strengthens the Board of Directors of the Group, by adding nearly 60 years of cumulative experience. It increases the members of the Board of Directors of Sunshine Holdings to 12 – of which six are Independent Non Executive Directors and another four of whom are Non-Executive Directors. 

Talwatte, a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants of the UK, has served as the Country Managing Partner of Ernst & Young for over a decade. Besides his distinguished career of more than 37 years in Assurance, Business Risk and Advisory Services, Talwatte has served as the head of numerous leading industry bodies and has been closely associated with the development of Corporate Governance in Sri Lanka.

A former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) (in 2002/2003) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (in 1995/96), he now functions as the Chairman of Management Systems (Pvt) Limited (MSL) also chairs the Committee reviewing the applicability of Integrated Reporting in Sri Lanka and the Committee reviewing the Corporate Governance Code.

Kobbekaduwa, a Life Member of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka with over 20 years of experience, at present serves as Partner, Corporate Law Division, F. J. & G. de Saram, Attorneys-at-Law & Notaries Public. She possesses significant experience on all aspects of Commercial and Corporate Law, having advised corporates, investors and international law firms in her distinguished career.

She specialises in New Investments, Trusts and Associations and Amalgamations. As the partner responsible for the pro bono work of her firm, she has contributed to the establishment of a number of leading institutions including the Sri Lanka Press Institute, Sri Lanka College of Journalism and Lanka Business Coalition on HIV and AIDS.

“The appointment of two proven professionals of the calibre of Asite Talwatte and Roshani Kobbekaduwa adds significant strengthen and expertise in key areas to the Board of Sunshine Holdings,” Sunshine Holdings Group Managing Director (GMD) Vish Govindasamy said. “The appointment of two new Independent Directors also reaffirms our Group’s strong commitment to corporate governance.”

With the new appointments, the Board of Directors of Sunshine Holdings PLC consists of S. A. Munir  (Chairman), Vish Govindasamy (Group Managing Director), Govindasamy Sathasivam, Sarath Piyaratna, B. A. Hulangamuwa, Harsha Abeywickrama, Nissanka Weerasekara, Thirugnanasambandar Senthilverl, Shyam Sathasivam, Allan Hollingsworth, Asite Talwatte and Roshani Kobbekaduwa. 

Sunshine Holdings PLC is a diversified holding company contributing to ‘nation building’ by creating value in vital sectors of the Sri Lankan economy – including healthcare, agribusiness, fast moving consumer goods and renewable energy. The group, which provides employment to approximately 12,000, generates over $ 120 million in revenue. Sunshine Holdings is consistently ranked among the LMD Top 50 companies in Sri Lanka and is also one of the country’s largest tax payers – contributing over Rs. 500 million to the State’s coffers annually.