New office bearers of LCBSL appointed

The newly appointed Executive Committee for year 2021/2022  

 Standing: Keshan Dabare (Sampath Bank), Siddeeque Akbar (Amana Bank), Chandana Abeysundara (Commercial Bank), Ranjeev Beadle (SDB), Asiri Iddamalgoda (DFCC), Devapriya Dharmarathne. 

Seated: Ajith Senadheera (NDB), Priyantha Samaradiwakara (NTB), Kanchana Karunagama (HNB), Shiyan Perera (PABC), Dilum Amarasinghe (Seylan Bank), Jeewantha Perera (Union Bank).  

Absent: Damayanthi Subasinghe (BOC), J. Munasinghe (RDB) 

The 5th AGM of the LCBSL (Leasing Council of Bankers of Sri Lanka) was held recently, where Kanchana Karunagama was appointed as the new President, taking over from outgoing President Gillian Edwards.    

The LCBSL was formed in the year 2015 as a measure to protect and improve the standards of the leasing industry within the banking sector. Improving customer friendliness of the leasing product, improving the technical knowledge on the product among sales and credit staff of banks, ensuring related services such as valuations are up to standard, and improving the common understanding and engagement of the banking industry on the leasing product and forming a common voice and representation to engage with Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Government and other stakeholders were among the key priorities of LCBSL. 

The presence of the LCBSL created immense value for all members and the industry at large during the periods of unprecedented challenges faced in the last few years and created a common platform of engagement for all banks to contribute towards the economic development of the country.  

Sharing his views on the future activities of LCBSL, incoming President Kanchana Karunagama said: “Leasing is a very popular mode of finance, specially among the retail and SME segments, and banks offer comparatively lower interest rates than others. The exposure of banks and contribution to these segments have immensely contributed to expanding many sectors in the economy of the country. 

“The importance of leasing product needs to be highlighted among all stakeholders whilst maintaining its more attractive features. The product is more secured with many benefits, including a strong contribution to the bottom line of any bank, with added advantages such as depreciation etc. 

“We would like to work close with regulatory bodies with a view of further streamlining this product with more attractive benefits to the lessees. Also, we have planned to work close with many government and private sector organisations in further popularising the Leasing product. I am confident with my able team to take this association forward for the betterment of the banking sector and current and potential customers.”

New President Karunugama is ably supported by the senior office bearers, which includes the three Vice Presidents namely, Shiyan Perera (PABC), Dilum Amarasinghe (Seylan Bank) and Priyantha Samaradiwakara (NTB), who will be in-charge of broader areas covering Public Relations, Technical and Training respectively. Jeewantha Perera (Union Bank) serves as the General Secretary and Ajith Senadheera (NDB Bank) serves as the Treasurer.  

All member Banks are represented in the committee, ensuring the required share of voice.