Business
Seylan Bank appoints Ramesh Jayasekara as Director/CEO to lead next stage of transformation and growth
Seylan Bank PLC, has announced the appointment of Ramesh Jayasekara as its new Director/Chief Executive Officer, effective from 1 May 2023.Having joined Seylan Bank in 2011 as Chief Financial Officer, Ramesh was later appointed Chief Risk Officer in 2016 and assumed the role of Deputy General Manager – Corporate Banking from 2018 until 2019. He was promoted to Senior Deputy General Manager in January 2020 and elevated to Chief Operating Officer the following year.
Ramesh also serves as a Non-Executive Director of Seylan Development PLC, since November 2012.As an integral part of the leadership team for many years, Ramesh brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this new position. Over the years Ramesh has garnered extensive experience in various roles and positions at Seylan and demonstrates substantial capacity to lead the bank, and a commitment to its values and mission, strengthening the brand, and building stronger foundations for its future success.
Ramesh holds a first class honours degree from the University of Colombo. He is an Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, Chartered Institute of Marketing – United Kingdom, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, United Kingdom and Certified Management Accounts of Sri Lanka.
Contributing to the long-term strategy of the bank, Ramesh has over 20 years of experience in Banking, Strategic Planning, Financial Management, Risk and Audit, both locally and internationally. Prior to joining Seylan Bank PLC, Ramesh has gained extensive international experience as Deputy Regional Financial Controller of the French Banking giant BNP Paribas, Middle East Region comprising Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Cyprus. In Sri Lanka, he held senior roles at HSBC Sri Lanka as Resident Manager – Finance & Planning and at KPMG Sri Lanka as an Audit Manager.
Ramesh’s comprehensive experience in operations, combined with introduction of relevant technological improvements will inevitably contribute to advancing Seylan’s digitalisation strategy, commitment to providing superior products and an exceptional customer experience, continuing to lead the bank with integrity, innovation, and a customer-first approach.
Ramesh was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Bank in September 2022 and will succeed current Director/CEO Kapila Ariyaratne, who is retiring after 12 years of dedicated service, which involved many significant accomplishments.
The new Director/CEO will take over the reins of the Bank from the stewardship of Kapila Ariyaratne, who’s outstanding service, commitment and leadership has steered Seylan forward through demanding and challenging years. As the Bank celebrates its 35th anniversary, it has grown in assets, deposits and advances by 300% over the past decade, with revenue quadrupled and profit after tax doubled.
Despite the country facing socio-economic crises during the past three years, the Bank under Kapila’s admirable leadership, has unstintingly supported the nation and all customers. In the past decade, the Bank has also been continuously investing in the community assisting under privileged communities, investing in enabling education through the Seylan Pehasara project which established 225 libraries across the country, and has driven the bank to be nominated as the best in Customer Services for four consecutive years (as per LMD). As Kapila leaves the helm of the Bank, the institution is currently in a buoyant and very positive phase of change and growth. He has inspired and mobilised the best skills and resources with courage, boldness and precision to execute strategies in the best interest of all stakeholders.
Business
SriLankan Airlines records revenue increase with AI and ML-powered Revenue Management System
SriLankan Airlines has recorded a revenue increase following the implementation of a next-generation, AI and Machine-Learning (ML) powered Origin and Destination (O&D) revenue management platform. The system enables dynamic pricing and smarter inventory optimisation, while delivering a superior passenger experience across all sales channels through real-time seat availability and predictive analytics.
Kshanaka Saparamadu, Head of Revenue Management at SriLankan Airlines, remarked, “Embracing the latest revenue management technology is a testament to our commitment to continuous innovation and digital transformation. With the introduction of PROS Revenue Management Advantage and Amadeus Revenue Availability and Active Valuation, we are not only refining our current processes but also positioning ourselves for long-term success in modern airline retailing, ensuring we stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry.”
Chamara Perera, Group Head of IT at SriLankan Airlines, added, “This transition to a dynamic, integrated revenue management system reflects our strategic focus on remaining agile in an increasingly competitive and fast-evolving airline industry. As the aviation sector undergoes rapid digital transformation, SriLankan Airlines is enhancing its ability to respond swiftly to market fluctuations and meet the evolving demands of today’s travelers.”
Powered by PROS’ AI-driven Revenue Management Advantage (RMA) and Amadeus Revenue Availability and Active Valuation (RAAV), the platform leverages AI algorithms and ML models to improve alignment of capacity and demand, optimise premium seat allocation and respond swiftly to market shifts. These capabilities deliver unmatched agility and scalability, boost yield and position SriLankan Airlines at the forefront of digital transformation in aviation.
Industry benchmarks show that O&D-based revenue optimisation models typically deliver a 3%-5% increase in passenger revenue, underscoring the new revenue management system as a key driver, among other strategic factors, to the 13% growth recorded by SriLankan Airlines during the first three quarters of the 2025-2026 financial year.
This initiative has not only enhanced SriLankan Airlines’ agility, scalability, and competitiveness in a dynamic global aviation market, but also strengthened collaboration between pricing, demand and flight analyst teams, earning two awards in the process. It was recognised with the Growth Catalyst Award at the Outperformer Customer Awards 2025 in Las Vegas by PROS, as well as the Silver Award in the AI and Data Science category at the National Project Management Excellence Awards 2025 in Colombo by the Project Management Institute Sri Lanka Chapter.
As SriLankan Airlines continues its modernisation journey, the new integrated revenue management platform will significantly improve SriLankan Airlines’ global market position, its ability to attract and retain high value connecting passengers, and competitiveness in the global aviation landscape.(SriLankan Airlines)
Business
CCC delegation completes prestigious International Trade Facilitation Programme
A delegation of 30 professionals from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently completed a specialised residential training programme on International Trade Facilitation at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) in New Delhi.
Hosted by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, a premier institution established under India’s Ministry of Commerce and widely regarded as a leading centre of excellence in international trade education and research, the programme also included engagements with several of India’s most prominent trade and diplomacy institutions. These included the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the government authority responsible for shaping and implementing India’s foreign trade policy; the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, the country’s premier training institution for diplomats; the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), the apex body representing India’s exporting community; and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), one of India’s most influential industry associations. Together, these engagements offered participants valuable insights into how policy, diplomacy, and industry interact in a robust manner to facilitate trade and economic progress.
Over nine days, participants explored key aspects of global commerce, including the international trading system, trade negotiations, economic intelligence, trade finance, and emerging issues such as AI, cyber risk, and digital transformation.
The programme offered valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of international trade and the systems that support it, while highlighting ways in which chambers of commerce can further leverage their existing role in supporting businesses navigate global markets, contributing to policy discussions, and strengthen the broader trade ecosystem.
The programme was designed and overseen by Dr. Rohit Mehtani, Dean at IIFT and a widely respected expert in international trade diplomacy and negotiations, whose academic work and advisory experience have contributed to international trade discourse.
Business
LOLC Life Assurance hosts MDRT Summit & Recognition Night 2026 honouring top performers
LOLC Life Assurance recently hosted its MDRT Summit & Recognition Night 2026 at the Hilton Colombo Residences, celebrating its 2025 MDRT qualifiers while aspiring the team to achieve even greater milestones in the year ahead. The event brought together senior leadership and top performing advisors in a distinguished forum focused on recognising performance excellence, sharing industry insights, and setting the strategic direction for continued success.
In 2025, the Company produced 89 MDRT qualifiers, including six Court of the Table (COT) and two Top of the Table (TOT) achievers, along with one Lifetime MDRT member. Representing Agency and Bancassurance channels, these professionals demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering responsible financial guidance and long-term protection solutions to individuals and families across Sri Lanka.
The Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) is globally recognised as the benchmark of excellence in the life insurance and financial services profession. Membership is reserved for individuals who meet rigorous production targets and uphold strict ethical standards. Achieving MDRT status is widely regarded as a mark of credibility, trust, and advisory distinction.
Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Chandana L. Aluthgama, Executive Director and Principal Officer of LOLC Life Assurance stated, “It is with great pride that we recognise our MDRT qualifiers for their dedication, discipline, and integrity, which set a benchmark of excellence for our advisory force and reflect the customer-first values that define LOLC Life Assurance. These achievers deserve recognition not only for meeting targets or selling policies, but also for safeguarding families, empowering individuals to build their legacies, and supporting financial independence, providing certainty and confidence in an unpredictable world. In acknowledging their exceptional contributions, I congratulate all our MDRT qualifiers and am confident they will continue to deliver meaningful financial protection while creating lasting value for our clients and communities.”
Further echoing this sentiment, Mr. Jayantha Kalinga, Chief Operating Officer of LOLC Life Assurance added, “This Summit not only celebrates the outstanding performance of our MDRT achievers in 2025 but also acknowledges the resilience, consistency, and customer dedication demonstrated by our teams throughout the year. As we move forward, we will continue to strengthen capabilities through structured development initiatives, advanced training tools, and robust operational support, empowering our advisors to serve clients with confidence and professionalism while further expanding our MDRT presence in the years ahead.”
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