Sampath Bank (SB) will have the youngest board of directors in the country with one of the youngest entrepreneurs, Dhammika Perera at its helm. “He will be taking over duties at the SB board on Tuesday at 6.45 am, keeping to the auspicious time,” a SB official told the Business Times.
He said that Anika Senanayake (30 years), daughter of Arthur Senanayake - the former SB Chairman will take up duties as a director effective tomorrow along with Channa Palansuriya (48 years – Chairman of the Sri Lanka Apparel Association), Deshal de Mel (27 years), Ranil Pathirana (45 years and CFO Hirdramani Group) and Sanjiva Senanayake (61 years), former IFC representative. This year, only three commercial banks – Commercial, Sampath and Nation’s Trust Bank (NTB) - had to comply with the Central Bank rule where directors cannot serve more than nine years and/or have to step down when they reach 70 years.
Professional Dinesh Weerakkody was elected uncontested as the new chairman of the Commercial Bank, replacing the retiring Mahendra Amarasuriya, at the bank’s board meeting on Friday afternoon. Mr. Amarasuriya, just over 70 years and who has served the bank as an excellent chairman and director for a combined period of 25 years, would have continued into the New Year owing to an Appeal Court interim injunction temporarily restraining the Central Bank (CB) from implementing the rule. This follows a petition filed by a bank shareholder, K.C. Vignarajah, challenging the CB rule.
NTB saw Ajith Gunewardene, Chairman and Eranjith Wijenaike, Deputy Chairman resigning from its board with Ronnie Peiris being appointed Chairman effective tomorrow. Some bankers have been critical of the Central Bank (CB) rule saying it was aimed at installing CB nominees in the banks and ultimately taking control. |
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