Thilak Piyadigama to head Sanasa Development Bank

Senior banker Thilak Piyadigama will be taking over the role of CEO/GM of Sanasa Development Bank PLC with effect from March 01, 2019.

His appointment comes following the retirement of incumbent CEO/GM C. Hapuarachchi with effect from February 29, 2019.

Piyadigama posses over 30 years of experience in banking and technology industries and he has spentmajor part of his career in senior management roles in Singapore, UAE, UK and Sri Lanka with Standard Chartered Bank and Nations Trust Bank PLC.

His professional experience spans across strategy, banking operations, digital transformation, technology, operational risk and client service.

He has served as the Chief Operating Officer or NTB and helped in transforming the bank to provide seamless experience to customers and staff using cutting-edge technologies, frictionless processes and customer-friendly locations.

Piyadigama was widely credit for launching FriMi, the first digital bank in Sri Lanka by NTB.

He is a board member of Lanka Financial Service Bureau and Governor, Council Member of the National Institute of Business Management (NIBM).

He has headed some strategic projects for SCB. As the Director-Strategic Implementations, he spearheaded setting up operations in Afghanistan and Iran.
As Regional Head of IT- MESA, he played a significant role in rolling out core banking system in MESA region and played a lead role in implementing and re-engineering of IT service delivery model.

On the M&A front, Piyadigama was responsible for managing key aspects of Grindlays Bank acquisition by SCB in Sri Lanka.

Prior to joining SCB, he had successful career with John Keells Holdings.

Piyadigama holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and he attended management development programmes at INSEAD in France and at London Business School in the UK.