Business
Banking legend Priyantha Talwatte takes over as chief Executive Officer at SDB bank
A well respected and accomplished personality in the Banking industry, Priyantha Talwatte, has assumed duties as Chief Executive Officer at SDB bank, with effect from 23rd November 2022. Talwatte has 30 years of senior leadership experience with a track record of delivering sustainable stakeholder value. He was a pioneering senior leader shaping the ascend of Nations Trust Bank PLC (NTB) in Sri Lanka from a small size lender to a top banking powerhouse. He spent the last 20 years at NTB joining them as a corporate manager in 2002 and was the CEO/Director for the last two years.
During his 20 years at that bank, Mr. Talwatte spearheaded the launch of American Express Cards in Sri Lanka, building an enviable acceptance network that is the best in the region, among many other pioneering achievements. He developed segmented banking propositions and established a sales and service culture of the bank and expanded the NTB brand to become a top of the mind brand name in its effective target markets. Also he setup the banks 24×7 best in class contact centre, and a centre of excellence for collections and recovery. He led the banks analytics initiative and digital initiative to become one of the strongest digital banks in Sri Lanka and has extensive experience in developing credit underwriting and behaviour score card models and implementing risk ratings for effective risk management of diverse portfolios. During his tenure as CEO/Director at NTB, the bank transitioned to a fully in-house digital banking development environment providing a full stack of digital banking services on a micro services platform.
Mr.Talwatte is an alumnus of Harvard Business School (AMP) Boston USA and is a renowned speaker and trainer of leadership and Management Development.His vast experience in dealing with Corporate, SME and Retail clients and involvement in all aspect of banking services, building, and developing highly engaged work teams will support the SDB banks transformation to a New Age development bank.
SDB bank is a licensed specialized bank supervised by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, listed on the Main Board of the Colombo Stock Exchange, with a Fitch Rating of BB+(lka) (Stable) and ICRA Rating (SL) BBB (Stable). A future-ready bank, providing holistic, 360-degree support to its customers, SDB bank is constantly catering to ever-changing needs, through a combination of financial support and value additions to life and business through mentorship and knowledge-sharing focusing on areas such value chain enhancements and financial management. SDB bank is also committed to a sustainable business model in terms of environmental, social and governance sustainability. This commitment is reflected in the Bank’s financing activities, giving preference to businesses and initiatives that take a sustainable approach, over those that do not. SDB bank has established itself as a financier that values every customer equally, for their potential and supports the development of individuals and SMEs with a special focus on women empowerment and the realization of the dream of digital inclusion for the masses.
Dr. R. A. D. Jeewantha was honoured as the Most Innovative Dentist of the Year at the Business World International Awards, 2025. Organised by the Business World International Organisation, the award ceremony was held recently at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. A graduate of the Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Dr. Jeewantha has built a reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s most respected and forward-thinking dental surgeons. After gaining vital experience in Government hospitals, including the Teaching Hospital in Karapitiya, he also served at a leading private hospital before launching his own practice—Doctor J Premium Dental Care in Delkanda, Nugegoda.
His dental clinic is known for offering advanced, patient-focused treatments in restorative dentistry, cosmetic procedures, and implantology, using state-of-the-art technology. Dr. Jeewantha is especially skilled in dental implants, having completed the American Residency Course in Dental Implantology at Roseman University, accredited by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Dr. Jeewantha holds fellowships from the International College of Continuing Dental Education (FICCDE) and the Pierre Fauchard Academy (USA). His advanced skills include modern root canal treatments using Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) for both surgical and non-surgical procedures.
He has completed international trainings in digital dentistry, full-arch implantology techniques like All-on-Four and Zygomatic Systems, and smile design using digital 3D scans. He has participated in global dental events such as the Asia-Pacific Dental Congress and completed training at institutions including the University of Manchester and North Western State Medical University in Russia. His courses have covered everything from intraoral scanning to managing tooth wear. He has previously received many local and international awards. Dr. Jeewantha also serves the community as a Justice of the Peace for All Island.
The Foundation in Biological Studies at IIHS provides a unique alternative for students looking to fast-track their health careers after their Ordinary Level (O/L) exams. This programme offers a direct route to global health careers, bypassing traditional A/Ls. With over 1,000 students already advancing to universities in Australia, the UK, and Finland, IIHS has positioned the course as a reliable launchpad for careers in fields like medicine, nursing, biomedical sciences, and digital health. “This programme is a game-changer, offering a transformative journey into global healthcare education,” said IIHS CEO Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe.
Seylan Bank has recorded a Profit before Tax (PBT) of LKR 4,199 million in Q1 2025, marking a 13.36% growth compared to LKR 3,704 million in Q1 2024. Profit after Tax (PAT) rose by 20.29%, reaching LKR 2,761 million, up from LKR 2,295 million in the corresponding period of 2024.
Despite a decrease in net interest income by 8.37% due to market interest rate reductions, the bank’s net fee-based income grew by 13.83%, driven by fees from loans, cards, remittances, and other services. Total operating income for the quarter was LKR 11,258 million, a 3.83% decrease from the previous year, while operating expenses rose by 4.62%, largely due to increased personnel and other operating costs.
Impairment charges were significantly reduced by 83.17%, totaling LKR 262 million, reflecting the bank’s solid credit quality and proactive provisions. The bank’s impaired loan ratio improved to 1.98% from 2.10% in Q1 2024, with a provision cover ratio of 80.74%.
Seylan Bank’s total assets grew to LKR 785 billion, with loans and advances reaching LKR 469 billion and deposits totaling LKR 647 billion. The bank’s capital adequacy ratios remained strong, with the Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio at 13.67% and Total Capital Ratio at 17.64%.
In addition to its financial performance, Seylan Bank continued its commitment to education, opening 16 more “Seylan Pahasara Libraries,” bringing the total to 281 libraries across the island.Fitch Ratings upgraded Seylan Bank’s National Long-Term Rating to ‘A+(lka)’ with a Stable Outlook in January 2025, further underscoring the bank’s financial stability and growth trajectory.
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