Professional Keith Bernard has been appointed as the Managing Director of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) but it is learnt that his predecessor T. M. R. Bangsa Jayah has refused to quit.

Unlike Bangsa Jayah, a retired commissioned Police Officer with over 29 years service, Bernard is an accountant by profession. 

He counts over 30 years in corporate and public sectors with wide ranging experience covering manufacturing, construction, telecom, finance, management consulting etc. at senior management and CEO level with local as well as international companies and agencies.

There was speculation that when Bernard tried to assume office, he was man-handled at SLIC but this couldn’t be verified.

Though yet to take office, Bernard’s appointment as SLIC nominee to the Board of Lanka Hospital Corporation Plc was announced this week. 

SLIC owns 55% stake in Lanka Hospitals, which Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last week said would be privatised via the Colombo stock market.

Lanka Hospitals also announced the appointment of Asendra Siriwardena, Uma Rajamantri and Dr. Anil Abeywickrema as Independent Non-Executive Directors. 

This was following the resignation of Tissa Nanayakkara (Deputy Chairman), Prof. Asita de Silva, Prof. Mandika Wijeyaratne and Dr. Harsha Gunasekara. Some were appointed soon after the regime change though Lanka Hospitals Board still has several who were appointed prior to the change of Cabinet. 

With the latest changes, the Board of Directors of Lanka Hospital Corporation comprises of Sarath Paranavitane (Chairman), M. M. Singh, D. Singh, P. Raghunath (alternate to M. M. Singh), Ven. T. Palitha Thero, Damien Fernando, D. Lokuhetty, R. L. Wijesundera, K. Rajagopal (alternate to D. Singh), M. S. Perera, K. D. Bernard, A. Siriwardena, U. Rajamantri and A. Abeywickrema. Singapore-based Fortis Global Healthcare Holdings owns 28.6% stake in the Company.