Following Sunil Wijesinha’s resignation as Chairman of the National Development Bank, better known as the NDB Bank, the vacancy thus created has been filled by former Hayleys Group Chairman N.G. Wickremeratne.

This appointment with immediate effect was made by the Bank’s Board of Directors at a meeting on 20 April.

The government had recently notified in writing to the heads of several leading private banks where it holds shares that they should resign and NDB Chairman Sunil Wijesinha resigned while bowing to this request.

Similarly, while Dr. Rani Jayamaha who was the Chairperson of Hatton National Bank too resigned, several heads of private banks took steps to challenge this government directive.

The government holds nearly 33 per cent stake at the NDB and about 28 per cent at the Hatton National Bank.