New leadership team at Lanka Sathosa

Lanka Sathosa, the country’s largest retail network business, this week announced a host of senior leadership appointments to spearhead its ongoing transformation as it strives to deliver greater value to the nation during the COVID-19 health and financial crisis.

Major ( Retd.) Anura Pandithage has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer ( CEO) of Lanka Sathosa Ltd with effect from September 21, 2020. He served in the Sri Lanka Army for 20 years. After his retirement from the Army, he has held management roles in Human Resources and Administration at several leading private sector enterprises. A g raduate of the Army Command and Staff College for Defence Management (psc), he holds an MBA from the Open University of Sri Lanka. He is a Chartered Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) and holds a Diploma for Human Resource Management from the same Institute, company officials told the Business Times.

Lanka Sathosa also welcomed four new Deputy General Managers ( DGMs) to head its Human Resources ( HR) and Admin; Engineering; Information Technology; and Internal Audit functions with effect from September 11, 2020.

Commenting on the appointments, Dr. Nushad M. Perera, Chairman, Lanka Sathosa Ltd said, “We have been striving relentlessly to support consumers, small business own

ers, local manufacturers and farmers during this global health and financial crisis. Strengthening our senior management team with the appointment of these experienced leaders, I look forward to seeing Lanka Sathosa transform Sri Lanka’s retail space and deliver greater value to our customers and all other stakeholders.”

Wing Commander ( Retd.) Primal Paragahawatta joined the retail chain as DGM - HR and Admin. He severed in the Sri Lanka Air Force’s Directorates of Administration and Provost for 21 years, holding key positions in HR & Administration, Security, Investigation and Ceremonial Duties during his tenure.

Priyantha Godegama, who counts over 17 years of experience in Civil Engineering, will be leading Lanka Sathosa’s Engineering team as DGM – Engineering. Sumathi Hewavitharana has been appointed DGM - Information Technology. He counts over 25 years of experience in the field of IT.

B. Thusitha Kumara Nissanka has come on board as DGM - Internal Audit. A practising Chartered Accountant, he brings with him over 17 years of experience in Corporate Finance in the private sector.

Lanka Sathosa Limited’s Management Team: Seated (from left) - Lakshman Kumara, Senior Manager – Procurement; Major (Retd.) Anura Pandithage, Chief Executive Officer; Dr. Nushad M. Perera, Chairman; Susiri Perera, DGM – Finance and Dilantha Perera, Senior Accountant. Standing (from left) - Sumathi Hewavitharana, DGM - Information Technology; Chamila Suresh Botheju, Senior Manager – Engineering; Sisira Gunawardana, Senior Manager - Human Resource and Administration; Commander (Retd.)Thushara Perera, DGM – Procurement; Amitha Jayatunga, Chief Legal Officer / Board Secretary; Janak Sanjeewa Badugama, DGM – Operations; Wing Commander (Retd.) P. W. Primal, DGM - Human Resource & Adminstration; Mewan Adihetty, DGM – Marketing; B. T. K. Nissanka, DGM - Internal Audit and Eng. Priyantha Godagama, DGM – Engineering. Not in the photograph - W. R. A. R. K. Ranasinghe, Acting Senior Manager – Operations; Aisha Nawfel, Acting Senior Accountant and Anushke Bastian, Assistant Manager - Information Technology.