Alliance Finance announces appointment of two new Directors

Wednesday, 7 August 2024 03:14 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Dr. Lasantha Wickremesooriya

Wiyan Perera

Alliance Finance Company PLC has announced the appointment of Dr. Lasantha Wickremesooriya and Wiyan Perera two new Non-Independent Non-Executive Directors to its Board.

Wickremesooriya is a multi-disciplinary Consultant specialising in the practice of strategy, training, research, and academic teaching. He obtained his Doctorate from the faculty of management and finance, University of Colombo. His thesis endeavours to explain inter firm performance heterogeneity, enterprise evolution, and organisational longevity from a capability perspective, a lacuna in the domain of traditional economic theory.

He counts extensive industry experience in the private sector and has held several C-suite positions in both medium sized organisations and conglomerates. His engagement in the private sector cuts across diverse industries, including audit, tax and company secretarial practice, agriculture, food, logistics, hardware and veterinary and have dealt in both, international and domestic markets. During his extensive career he has had hands-on experience in competitive strategy, operations, and marketing. He excelled in bringing about transformational changes to the respective businesses and established new paths of growth. The learning and knowledge accumulated over the years have contributed to his specialisation in strategic thinking, strategic leadership, change management and growth for sustainability. While in industry, he provided leadership as Chairman to several trade associations. In a professional capacity, he served as the Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Sri Lanka region and went on to be elected as a Trustee of the Board of Trustees of CIM-UK, and as the first international Chairman of the Audit committee of CIM-UK.

Perera was educated at Colombo International School, where he served as the Head Prefect of the batch of 2011. Following his schooling, Perera graduated with First Class Honours in Economics and Statistics from University College London, where he was awarded the R.A Fisher Prize for Academic Excellence.

After his graduation, Perera was employed in London by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he worked as a Vice President in the Global Credit and Special Situations trading team.

Perera’s team specialised in analysing and investing in performing and non-performing loans, high yield bonds and distressed debt. Perera was involved in analysing, negotiating and executing investment opportunities for the bank and its clients with a specific focus on real estate, hotels/tourism and metals and mining. His team managed a portfolio with investments across Europe, including the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy.

Perera returned to Sri Lanka in April 2022 and currently holds management positions in various privately-owned and operated businesses. He is the Managing Director of MSS Investments Ltd., and Motor Service Station Ltd. He is also an Executive Director of Orient Properties Ltd, and Orient Petroleum Ltd.

With the latest appointments the Board of Alliance Finance Co. PLC comprises Chairman G.S.T.D. Herath, Managing Director R.K.E.P. de Silva, D.L.I. Hettiarachchi, W.P.K. Jayawardana, P. De Silva, L.J.H. de Silva, M.J. Benedict, S.L.N. Wickremesooriya and D.F.W. Perera.