Board of Directors

Mr. Channa de Silva

Chairman – Non Executive / Non Independent

Mr Channa de Silva was appointed to the Board of Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC on 19th April 2011 and thereafter appointed as the Deputy Chairman in November 2014 and assumed duties as the Chairman of the Company in October 2016.

He previously served as the Managing Director of Summit Finance PLC as well as the Managing Director of George Steuart Finance PLC.  Formerly, he served as a Director of Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC. He also served as the Group Managing Director of Delmege Group Limited. He has served the government sector previously as the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Executive Director of the Board of Investments (BOI) Sri Lanka. He is the Chairman/Co-founder of Capital media, publisher of Echelon business magazine and business news portal EconomyNext and Neon Media.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Colombo and Master’s Degrees from Harvard University and Melbourne University. Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (FCMA – UK) and Fellow of the Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA – UK).

He is the Vice President of Sarvodaya Movement. Also serves as a Governing Council Member of the University of Colombo. Also serves as a board member of University of Colombo Investment Committee as well as Finance Committee. Also serves as a faculty board member of Institute of Graduate Studies, Institute of Biotechnology & Molecular Biology and Institute of Indigenous Medicine. He serves as a Sri Lankan council member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments (CISI- UK). He is an Edward Mason Fellow of Harvard University and served as a Teaching Fellow in Public Finance at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Mr. Dhammika Ganegama

Senior Director - Non Executive / Independent

Mr Dhammika Ganegama joined the Board of Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC on 15th July 2020. Having more than 26 years of experience in the IT industry, Mr. Ganegama started his professional IT career when he joined a small startup in 1999. He program managed many of the strategic accounts, helping increase their valuation and later to be part of its listing in 2007 with NASDAQ (VRTU). He is currently a Founding Partner and Executive Vice President of the Mitra Group.

The Mitra Group is headquartered in the UK with offices across Australia, Sri Lanka, Singapore and the US serving clients across 50+ countries. Mr Ganegama owns and operates multiple ventures and businesses across many geographies and has also been appointed as a trusted advisor for several For and Not for Profit organizations. He has developed a wealth of experience in consulting and implementing Digital Transformation programs for global clients ranging from SMEs, public sector, large scale enterprises and multi-nationals including Siemens, Aetna, BT, Staples, Axiata, IBM and other Fortune 500 clients. His experience and passion extend to Program management, Setting up technology lead new businesses, Ventures and Partnerships across various industry verticals.

Mr. Christopher Amrit CanagaRetna

Non Executive / Independent

Mr Amrit CanagaRetna was appointed to the Board of Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC on 19th October 2018.  An experienced and a qualified Ex banker with over 35 years of international and local experience specializing in retail and corporate conventional & sharia based financing, with the last 7 years ending 2017 heading Corporate & SME Business Banking areas of Islamic Financing at Amana Bank Plc as its Vice President– Business Banking.

Previously he has been the Deputy General Manager of Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC.

Skilled in financial advisory services relating to working capital funding to financial institutions, corporates, small & medium sized Industries, start-ups including foreign trade financing and construction finance. Having commenced his career at European Asian Bank in 1981, he has since worked for over 8 banks both locally and internationally. Apart from his banking experience, he was the CEO/Director of a Central Bank approved Finance Company and has been a Financial Consultant to both private & government entities.

Currently, Mr CanagaRetna is pursuing his passions in representing luxury brands in Sri Lanka in his capacity as Director–Strategic Investments of Royal Lanka Agencies (Pvt) Ltd. Sole Agents for MontBlanc, Baume & Mercier, Raymond Weil, Frederique Constant & Alpina Swiss brands.  

He is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, UK and of the Institute of Credit Management, UK.

Mr. Ramesh Schaffter

Non Executive / Non Independent

Mr Ramesh Schaffter was appointed to the Board of Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC on 20th April 2022. He serves as the Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Janashakthi Group (JXG), with a wealth of experience spanning over three decades in Finance and Marketing. Mr Schaffter is recognized as a Fellow Member and former Council Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Sri Lanka, as well as an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

In addition to his corporate leadership roles, he is a dedicated social entrepreneur and life coach. Mr Schaffter is renowned as an accomplished public speaker and has garnered multiple awards at both national and international levels in Toastmasters’ contests. He has also served as the President of Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka and held a position on the Board of World Vision for Sri Lanka.

His other principal appointments include Directorships in Janashakthi Insurance PLC, Serendib Land PLC and First Capital PLC.

Mr.Senthi Nandhanan Senthilverl

Non Executive / Non Independent

Mr Senthi Nandhanan Senthilverl was appointed to the Board of Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC (SDF) on 15th July 2021 and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Board. With a tenure spanning over 20 years in corporate environments, his insights are invaluable for strategic decision-making and governance.

Prior to his appointment at SDF, Mr Senthilverl served on the Board of Pan Asian Power PLC, demonstrating his proficiency in overseeing operations within the power sector. Additionally, his current role as CEO at Dollar Corporation underscores his leadership capabilities in managing a diverse range of industries including cosmetics, confectionery, beverages, toiletries, detergent, and incense stick manufacturing.

Furthermore, his position as an Executive Director at Senthilverl Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, an investment company founded by Dr. Thirugnanasambandar Senthilverl, specializing in equity investments, highlights his acumen in financial management and investment strategies.

Mr Senthi Nandhanan Senthilverl's multifaceted experience spans various domains including sales, marketing, purchasing, logistics, and equity trading, showcasing his versatility and adaptability in navigating complex business landscapes.

His educational background, including an MBA from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia, coupled with his membership in the Association of Business Executives, further solidifies his qualifications and commitment to professional development.

Overall, Mr Senthilverl's appointment to the Board of SDF brings a diverse skill set and a track record of success, positioning him as a valuable asset in driving the company's growth and sustainability initiatives.

Ms. Shehara de Silva

Non Executive / Independent

Ms Shehara De Silva was appointed to the Board of Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC on 27th June 2019. An experienced international communication and marketing expert, Ms De Silva has been behind the success of several local, regional and Fortune 500 multinational brands.

Ms De Silva has worked over a decade in Malaysia with Omnicom companies beginning as Director Planning of Naga DDB and later the Managing Director of Interbrand Malaysia, one of the world’s leading brand consultancies.

She is on the Boards of Keells Foods PLC, The Neelan Tiruchelvan Trust, Informatics Institute of Technology and Ex-Pack Corrugated Cartons PLC,  Amana Takaful Life Insurance and Optima Design Pvt Ltd. She has been previously on the Boards of Environment Foundation Ltd, Arthur
C Clark Centre for Science and Technologies and Eagle NDB Fund Management. She has also worked in the development sector with ILO, Internews Sri Lanka, USAID, NORAD, GIZ Sri Lanka, and Plan International.

She was the Deputy Director General of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI-SL), trained on attracting FDI at the IDA in Ireland. She facilitated in the transformation of three Sri Lankan groups - Singer in retail, NDB in banking and Janashakthi in Insurance.

She has spoken extensively at international conferences on branding, strategy and Gender issues and won several local and International Marketing and Women Leadership Awards.

Ms. Ramya Suranjani Wickremeratne

Non Executive / Independent

Ms Suranjani Wickremeratne was appointed to the Board of Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC (SDF) on 1st August 2024.

She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Board of SDF. Her professional background is marked by significant contributions to the banking and audit. She served as the Head of Audit at Deutsche Bank AG, Colombo Branch, from 1995 to 2009, conducting operational audits and engaging with regional and global operations units across multiple countries. Her early career includes roles as Accountant and Administration Manager at the Plantation Housing and Social Welfare Trust, and as a Senior Auditor at Ernst & Young, where she gained substantial experience in management and financial audits.

Her leadership extends to her position as Chairperson of Sri Lanka Sumithrayo, a charity incorporated by an Act of Parliament and registered as an NGO, which is dedicated to suicide prevention through its extensive island-wide services. Additionally, she is also the Founder President of the Tarana Foundation, where she continues to uplift rural students, communities, and schools.

As the current President of Dental Care International, an International NGO, she has successfully led, and continues to lead, initiatives to train girls from children’s homes and low-income families to become Dental Surgery Nurse Assistants. Her commitment to social causes is further demonstrated through her role on the Board of Trustees of the Damrivi Foundation, a Buddhist charity focused on counselling and developing the spiritual, social, and economic wellbeing of society. Ms Wickremeratne’s commitment to social upliftment is also well-aligned with SDF’s commitment to supporting financial inclusion in underserved communities.

Academically, Ms Wickremeratne holds an MBA from the University of Warwick, UK, and is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (ACMA). She is an alumna of St. Bridget’s Convent, Colombo 7, and the University of Colombo, where she currently serves as Vice Chairperson of the Alumni Association. Her extensive qualifications, expertise in accounting and auditing, and her experience in leadership roles make Ms Wickremeratne a valuable addition to the Board of SDF.