Six new Assistant Governors at CBSL

The Central Bank announced yesterday that the Governing Board, at its meeting held on 19 January has promoted Dr. C. Amarasekara, W. A. Dilrukshini, Dr. P.K.G. Harischandra,D.S.W. Samaratunga, E.H. Mohotty, R.D.T. Gunasekara to the post of Assistant Governors with effect from 22 January.

Following are the profiles of the new Assistant Governors. 

Dr. C. Amarasekara

Dr. Amarasekara has served the Central Bank for over 21 years. He is currently on release to the International Monetary Fund, Washington DC, USA, as the Alternate Executive Director for the constituency of Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Bhutan. At the Central Bank, he worked extensively in the Economic Research Department in different capacities specialising in monetary policy and research and was the Director of Economic Research during 2019-2021. In addition to serving as a long-standing member and secretary to the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank, Dr. Amarasekara was a member of the Financial System Stability Committee, the Market Operations Committee, External Debt Management Committee, the Domestic Debt Management Committee, the Training Committee and the Library Advisory Committee. He was also a member of the Board of Governors of the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI) and a member of the Science and Technology Policy Research Working Committee, National Science Foundation.

Dr. Amarasekara’s research on monetary policy and other central banking themes has been published in several international and local journals and is widely acknowledged and cited. He was the Editor of Staff Studies, the Central Bank’s Journal, during 2015-2020. He has volunteered as a guest lecturer, examiner, and quiz master at various academic and professional institutions, including various universities, the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka (IBSL), and the Centre for Banking Studies (CBS).

Dr. Amarasekara holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, a Master of Science Degree in Economics from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of Peradeniya. He is also an Attorney-at-Law.

W.A. Dilrukshini

W A Dilrukshini has over 23 years of experience in the Central Bank and served as the Director of the Macroprudential Surveillance Department. Before taking over the Macro Prudential Surveillance Department she has worked in the Departments of Economic Research, Statistics, Centre for Banking Studies in different capacities. Dilrukshini has expertise in policy making related to price and economic stability and financial system stability. Further, she spearheaded the sustainable finance initiatives of the CBSL. She is a member of the Financial System Stability Committee (FSSC) and served as the Secretary to the Financial System Stability Oversight Committee (FSOC). She also served as a visiting lecturer at the Department of Economics, University of Colombo. Dilrukshini holds a Master of International and Development Economics Degree from the Australian National University, Australia, and Bachelor of Arts Special Degree in Economics from the University of Colombo. She is currently awaiting graduation with a Master’s in Business Administration from the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. 

Dr. P.K.G. Harischandra 

Dr. Harischandra has served the Central Bank for over 21 years in different capacities in the Departments of Economic Research, Domestic Operations before serving as the Director of Economic Research Department from April 2022. He is the designate Alternate Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Washington DC, USA, representing the constituency of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bhutan, and his term at IMF will begin from February 2024 He served as a member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Market Operations Committee (MOC), Financial System Stability Committee, Working Committee (Establishment of the International Financial Centre in Colombo Port City), and the Green Finance Review Group, among others. He was the Chairperson of the Research Advisory Committee of the Economic Research Department. Further, he has served as the Additional Director General of the Fiscal Policy Department, Ministry of Finance. Dr. Harischandra holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, a Master of Science Degree in Economics from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Colombo and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Kelaniya. 

D.S.W. Samaratunga 

Samaratunga has served the Central Bank for over 23 years in different capacities in the Departments of Statistics, Economic Research, Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions, International Operations before serving as the Director of Centre for Banking Studies from 2021. She was also released to the Ministry of Finance in February 2015 to serve as the Director – Economic Affairs for around two years. Samaratunga holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Colombo, a Master of Science Degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Statistics from the University of Colombo.  

E.H. Mohotty 

Mohotty has over 23 years of experience in the Central Bank and has worked in the Departments of Bank Supervision, Secretariat, International Operations, Public Debt, Regional Development, Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions, Financial Intelligence Unit, and Communications in different capacities. 

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management (Public Administration) from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and a Master of Business (Banking and Finance) from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

R.D.T. Gunasekara

Gunasekara has served the Central Bank for over 23 years in different capacities in the Departments of Secretariat, Public Debt, International Operations, and Communications before serving as the Director of Policy Review and Monitoring Department from 2021. Gunasekara holds a Master of International Business Degree from the University of Sydney, Australia, a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. 

She is also a Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), United Kingdom.