Vallibel One revamps Board with four new appointments

Diversified investment holding Vallibel One PLC controlled by business leader Dhammika Perera has revamped its Board of Directors with four new appointments.

They are Manil Jayes-inghe, who also serves on JKH Board and the Governing Board and the Monetary Policy Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Romany Parakrama, Kamani Weerasinghe and Anura Fernando.

With the latest appointments, the Board of Vallibel One comprises Dhammika Perera (Chairman), Harsha Amarasekera (Co-Chai-rman), Y. Bhaskaran, Sumith Adhihetty, K. Amarasinghe, K.A.D.B. Perera, M. Jayesinghe, A. Fernando, R. Parakrama and K. Weerasinghe.

Anura Fernando is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Sri Lanka and counts over 24 years of experience in senior and internal audit roles both in Sri Lanka and overseas. He is a key leader of the senior management teams with hands-on-business experience under diverse cultures and business environments, extensive interaction with the Board of Directors leasing finance and business decisions, strategic investment projects etc.

He was the CFO/Director of Koala Springs International, Fremont, CA, USA, F&A Manager of Nestle Beverages, San Francisco and Glendale CA, USA and CFO I Controller of Pratt and Whitney Space Propulsion, San Jose, CA, USA. The Regional Audit Director, Asia Middle East and Africa UTC Internal Audit, Singapore, CFO, Pratt and Whitney Air New Zealand, Christchurch and Pratt and Whitney Shanghai Engine Centre (SEC) Shanghai, China and Regional Controller and (Director) Asia, Pratt Whitney International Services, Singapore.

Kamani Devika Weerasinghe is a senior finance professional with over 30 years of experience in finance and management. She began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers before moving to the John Keells Group, where she held various finance roles and/or directorships in both private and publicly listed companies.

Before retiring in June 2024, Weerasinghe served as the CFO for the Transportation Industry Group, Plantations Services, and Information Technology sectors within the John Keells Group.

She is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Romany Parakrama is a distinguished strategic leader with an extensive background in corporate communication, financial services, and governance. With a proven track record in diverse industries and geographies, she brings a unique blend of financial acumen, marketing expertise, and a commitment to ethics and diversity.

Previously, the Group Head of Corporate Communication for the David Pieris Group, Parakrama is a seasoned executive with an exceptional ability to navigate complex corporate environments.

Parakrama’s engagement in various capacities within the David Pieris Group underscored her commitment to governance and responsible leadership. She served as the Non-Executive Chairman of several entities within the group, including Assetline Insurance Brokers, Assetline Capital, and Assetline Corporate Service. Her board memberships extended to the David Pieris Automotive cluster, Assetline Finance, and several overseas subsidiary companies. She also serves as the Board of Sri Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation on a voluntary basis.

Her previous experience includes over 27 years in the banking industry, in both corporate and retail banking in Singapore and Sri Lanka. She was the Regional Head, Internal Communications for Southeast Asia and the Head of Sustainability, Brand and Sponsorship for Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore. In Sri Lanka, she has held a range of diverse roles including Head of Corporate Affairs, Head of Priority Banking and Head of Cash Management at Standard Chartered Bank. She has also worked at Amro Bank, American Express Bank and Societe Generale Bank.

Parakrama’s academic accomplishments include a Liberal Arts degree from Smith College USA, where she graduated Magna cum Laude and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honour society. She also holds accreditation as a Credit and Risk Professional from both Standard Chartered Bank and American Express.

Manil Jayesinghe is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) and the Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

He possesses over 41 years of experience in Advisory and Industry across key sectors in Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan. He served as the Country Managing Partner of Ernst and Young, Sri Lanka and Maldives from 2021 - 2023, Head of Assurance Practice for Sri Lanka and Maldives, and the Professional Practice Director of Sri Lanka from 2003 -2023.

As the partner in charge of the Banking, Financial and Insurance Services practice of the Ernst and Young Sri Lankan and the Maldivian firms, Jayesinghe has served as a key resource person in audits and consulting engagements in a multitude of industries, including banking, financial and insurance services, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, wholesale business and telecommunication and gained extensive commercial experience. He has also been engaged in the valuation of business and strategic plans for financial institutions.

Jayesinghe is the current Chairman of the Statutory Accounting Standards Committee and a member of the Statutory Auditing Standards Committee. He serves in many other committees of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, and Chairs the Accounting Standards Committee of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA).

He is a past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka. He has served as a council member of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, a Board member of the CIMA Sri Lanka Board, a member of the International Accounting Education Standards Board of the IFAC, a council member of the Moratuwa University, a member of the Board of Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board, a council member of CMA Sri Lanka, a member of Commission of Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka, a Board member of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and have served as a consultant to the Audit Committees of the Listed Companies.

Furthermore, Jayesinghe was the Head of the IFRS/SLAS Desk in EY Sri Lanka, reporting to the Area IFRS Desk based in Hong Kong. As a resource person for the Central Bank Training Centre, he has conducted many training sessions on Accounting, IFRS and Basel. He was the lead engagement partner on Audits subcontracted to EY by the Auditor General of Sri Lanka.

Jayesinghe is an Independent Director on the Boards of Diesel and Motor Engineering PLC, Ceylon Hospitals PLC, C. W. Mackie PLC, Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC, John Keells Holdings PLC, Lank Dairies Ltd., Sahasiya Investments Ltd., and NMJ Leisure Ltd. He also serves on the Governing Board and the Monetary Policy Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.