The Board of Directors of Sampath Bank PLC,  at their meeting held on 27, August 2020 has resolved to appoint top legal professional Harsha Amarasekera PC as the Chairman  (Non-Executive, Non- Independent) of the board with effect from 30th August 2020.

In a disclosure to the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), the bank noted that Amarasekera does not hold any shares of the bank as at date.

He succeeds Professor Malik Ranasinghe, who retired recently after having served as Chairman since 02nd April 2019. Before assuming duties as Chairman, Professor Ranasinghe was the Deputy Chairman of the Bank from 01st August 2016. Prior to his retirement, Professor Ranasinghe served as the Chairman of Board Credit Committee, Board Capital Planning Committee, Board Strategic Planning Committee and as a member of Board Nomination Committee, Board Related Party Transactions Review Committee, Board Treasury Committee, Board IT Committee.

Harsha Amarasekera, President's Counsel, is an eminent legal practitioner in the legal fraternity of Sri Lanka with a wide practice in both the Commercial Courts as well as the Appellate Courts. His areas of expertise include Commercial Law, Business Law, Securities Law, Banking Law and Intellectual Property Law. He also has significant experience in arbitration and cross- national disputes.

He was admitted to the Bar in November 1987 and took oaths as a President’s Counsel in November 2012.

He also serves as an Independent Director in several leading listed companies in the Colombo Stock Exchange, including Vallibel One PLC, Royal Ceramics PLC, Expo Lanka Holdings PLC, Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC, Taprobane Holdings PLC, Amana Bank PLC, Amaya Leisure PLC and Vallibel Power Erathna PLC. He also the chairman of CIC Agri-Business (Private) Limited and swisstek Aluminium Limited.

Amarasekera was also a director at Amana Bank PLC since its inception until his retirement in February of this year.