Boshan Dayaratne appointed to Regional Development Bank Board

The Ministry of Finance has appointed Boshan Dayaratne to the Board of Regional Development Bank (RDB) as a Non-Executive Independent Director.

Dayaratne has over 30 years of experience in senior management in various industries such as sports, garments, diversified business conglomerates, and education. He holds an MBA in Marketing from University of Colombo, and Bachelor of Commerce (Special) degree, also from the University of Colombo. Boshan is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM-UK) and has a Diploma in Sports Science from the Hungarian University of Physical Education. 

Currently, he is the Group Director/CEO of CICRA Holdings, a diversified group that specialised in cyber security training, consultation, and software development. He is recognised as a renowned keynote speaker in the field of cyber security. He has been invited by the United States Pacific Command to address the Pacific Senior Communicators annual event, which attracts senior military officials from 28 nations in Asia and the Pacific region. His focus has been on responding to cyber security and disaster recovery. 

Under Dayaratne’s leadership, CICRA conducts cyber security training at the annual Cyber Endeavor Program of the Multinational Communication Interoperability Program (MCIP) of the US Pacific Command. 

In 2015, Dayaratne was appointed as a Board Member on Cyber Security for the US – Malaysia Command and Control Interoperability Board for bilateral discussions.  He is also actively involved in various professional organisations. He serves as the Board Member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC- Sri Lanka), the Founder Chair of the Cyber Security Center of Excellence of SLASSCOM, and past Board Member of Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM). He is a past President of the MBA Alumni Association, University of Colombo and past Chairman of the Royal College Union Skills and Career Guidance Centre. 

The Regional Development Bank (RDB) is a 100% state-owned bank established with the primary objective of improving the living standards of the rural masses. Its main focus is to provide accessible and affordable credit facilities to empower various sectors of the economy and strengthen the rural economy as a whole.  The RDB aims to empower its customers, particularly those involved in micro, small, and medium-scale industries, women entrepreneurs, and the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries industries. 

By supporting these sectors, the bank believes that it can contribute significantly to the country's economic development. In May 2010, six provincial banks were merged to form the RDB as a national-level development bank. This consolidation aimed to streamline operations and enhance the bank's effectiveness in serving its customers and fulfilling its mission. As of its 38th anniversary on 13 July  2023, the RDB boasts six million loyal account holders and operates through 272 branches across the country.

To effectively carry out its vision of nurturing entrepreneurs who can drive socio-economic prosperity, the RDB has assembled a team of over 2,400 professional permanent staff members. These dedicated individuals are equipped with the expertise and knowledge to support and guide customers in their financial endeavors.

Overall, the Regional Development Bank strives to be a catalyst for positive change in rural communities by providing financial resources and expertise to uplift the living standards and promote economic growth among its customers.