Veteran banker Aravinda Perera new Chairman at PABC

New Chairman Aravinda Perera (left) and Deputy Chairman Nihal Kekulawala

• Succeeds Jayantha Rangamuwa who completes his term; Nihal Kekulawala appointed as Deputy Chairman

Pan Asia Bank has announced veteran banker Aravinda Perera as its new Chairman succeeding Jayantha Rangamuwa who resigns on 10 August after serving for a maximum term of nine years as per governance regulations. 

In his capacity as Chairman Rangamuwa steered the bank to financial stability through a period of extreme economic turbulence that prevailed over the last couple of years in the country. His immense contribution helped in transforming Pan Asia Bank into a leading and modern commercial bank in the country. 

Respected banker and business leader Aravinda Perera steps into the role of Chairman of Pan Asia Bank from 11 August after functioning as Deputy Chairman of the Bank since May 2021 and as Board Member since August 2017. A veteran in the banking industry, Aravinda Perera has garnered valuable expertise as the Managing Director of Sampath Bank PLC from 1 January 2012 until his retirement in September 2016.

Perera is also presently the Managing Director of Royal Ceramics Lanka PLC and Chairman of Singer Finance (Lanka) PLC, and a Director of Hayleys PLC, Hayleys Aventura Ltd., Fentons Ltd., and Hayleys Advantis Ltd. He is also a former Governing Board Member of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka and Past President of Association of Professional Bankers, Sri Lanka. He is a Member of the Institute of Engineers of Sri Lanka (MIESL) and a Chartered Engineer (C.Eng.). He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) (FCMA) and a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers – Sri Lanka (FIB).

During his illustrious career, Perera has won many accolades, including ‘CEO Leadership Achievement Award 2016’ by the Asian Banker and the prestigious ‘Platinum Honours – 2014’ award by the Postgraduate Institute of Management Alumni (PIMA) of Sri Jayewardenepura University. He was also honoured with the ‘Award for the Outstanding Contribution to the Banking Industry – 2015’ by the Association of Professional Bankers and awarded an Honorary Life Membership by the Association of Professional Bankers in October 2018.

Nihal Kekulawala, has been appointed as the Deputy Chairman of Pan Asia Bank. He was appointed to the Board of Pan Asia Bank in August 2016. Kekulawala counts over 30 years in the banking profession and presently serves on the Board of several public companies. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants UK and Sri Lanka, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in England and has an MBA from the University of Manchester

Pan Asia Bank in its statement said it places trust in Aravinda Perera and Nihal Kekulawala to lead the bank to new heights by shaping a financial institution that can embrace any challenge in its journey to provide much-needed financial services to the nation.