Nalin Karunaratne appointed to Orient Finance Board

Nalin Karunaratne

Orient Finance PLC, a member of the Janashakthi Group, has announced the appointment of Nalin Karunaratne as an Independent, Non-Executive Director to the company’s Board of Directors, with effect from 21 December.

A Chartered Global Management Accountant of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK, Nalin is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), UK and CIMA, UK. He has also completed several executive education programs at the prestigious IMD Business School, Switzerland; Harvard Business School, USA; and Asian Institute of Management, Philippines.

Nalin has had a long and illustrious career with several leadership roles at some of Sri Lanka’s preeminent local and multinational enterprises including Akzo Nobel Paints Lanka Ltd., Darley Butler, ICL, Lafarge Holcim (Lanka) Ltd., and Reckitt Benckiser (Lanka) Ltd., as well as Saudi Arabia’s Almarai Company Ltd. – the world’s largest vertically integrated dairy company.

He currently serves as the Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ceylon Biscuits Ltd. and CBL Exports Ltd. – members of the CBL Group. The Group is one of Sri Lanka’s largest FMCG conglomerates, engaged in both local sales and exports, and home to leading Sri Lankan food brands like Munchee, Ritzbury, Samaposha, Lankasoy and more. He is actively involved in the management of the company’s overseas ventures, overlooking the operations of CBL West Africa (Ghana) Ltd. and Plenty Foods India LLP. Nalin also serves as a Director on the Boards of Ceylon Biscuits Ltd., CBL Exports Ltd., CBL Foods International Ltd., and Ceylon Biscuits Bangladesh Ltd. 

Welcoming Nalin Karunaratne aboard the company, Orient Finance PLC Chairman Anil Tittawella said, “I am delighted to welcome Nalin to the board of Orient Finance. He joins us at a time when we have managed to register strong growth despite challenging market conditions. Given his extensive experience across diverse sectors, with a particular strength in marketing, I am confident that he will be an invaluable addition to our team and help propel us to greater heights.”

“Staying true to the core values of its parent company, the Janashakthi Group, Orient Finance has been delivering great value to its customers and all other stakeholders with great integrity and innovative solutions,” said Orient Finance PLC Independent, Non-Executive Director Nalin Karunaratne. He further added, “Joining this enterprising team as they mark 40 years of sustained growth, I look forward to working with them on driving the company forward as it continues its steady rise as a leading provider of unique financial solutions in the market.”

A company with an illustrious 40-year history, Orient Finance PLC has continued to cement its position as one of Sri Lanka’s most trusted financial service providers offering a broad array of innovative solutions to a diverse and growing clientele through a network of 31 branches across the country. Building on the strengths of the Janashakthi Group, the company has continued to register steady growth despite challenging market conditions. Having registered exponential year-on-year growth in both pre-tax profits and operating income, which grew by 386% and 92%, respectively, in the quarter ending 30 September 2021, Orient Finance is poised to deliver sustained growth and outstanding value in the years ahead.

With this appointment, the Orient Finance PLC Board comprises of Anil Tittawella PC (Chairman), K.M.M Jabir (Chief Executive Officer), Prakash Schaffter, Minette Perera, Indrani Goonesekera, Sriyan Cooray, Darshana Ratnayake and Nalin Karunaratne.