Sampath Bank PLC announced that Sanjaya Gunawardana officially commenced his tenure as the ninth Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank on 24 September.

Gunawardana succeeds Ayodhya Iddawela Perera, who concluded her term in office.

Gunawardana is a banking professional with over 36 years of experience across retail banking, trade finance, information technology, strategic planning, and organisational development.

Under his stewardship, Sampath Bank has embarked on its second major technological evolution, integrating AI-powered machine learning models into core banking operations to enhance efficiency, strengthen risk management, and enable data-driven decision-making.

Gunawardana regards technology as a strategic enabler and catalyst for organisational progress, capable of enabling value for customers while reinforcing operational excellence.

Gunawardana currently serves on the Boards of the Sri Lanka Bankers’ Association, Lanka Financial Services Bureau Ltd., and Lanka Pay (Pvt) Ltd.