People’s Bank yesterday saw Prof. P.N.D. Fernando officially taking over as Chairman of the entity, at a ceremony held at the entity’s head office, which was attended by the senior management.

Prof. Fernando brings with him over 25 years of experience in finance, banking and higher education. He has made notable contributions as a leading academic, having served as a Professor and Head of the Department of Finance at the University of Kelaniya.  With an impressive teaching tenure of more than 27 years, Prof. Fernando is recognised for his pioneering work in the academic sector, where he introduced several innovative degree programmes and played a key role in elevating the standards of financial education in Sri Lanka. As Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, he spearheaded numerous initiatives, including the successful acquisition of the World Bank AHEAD grants and ISO 21001 certification for the Kelaniya MBA programme.

In addition to his academic achievements, Prof. Fernando holds a PhD in Government Economics from Central China Normal University. He also earned an MBA from the West Bengal University of Technology, through a prestigious Colombo Plan scholarship and holds an undergraduate degree in Business Management (Accountancy) from the University of Kelaniya. Prof. Fernando has been a trusted consultant and resource person for leading financial institutions in Sri Lanka, such as the Colombo Stock Exchange and Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka. 

At the ceremony, he emphasised his vision for People’s Bank, aiming to enhance digital transformation, drive customer-centric growth and build a stronger, more sustainable banking network, to support the evolving needs of the nation.