Board Of Directors

Deshamanya D.H.S. Jayawardena

Chairman
Appointed in May 2003

Deshamanya D.H.S. Jayawardena, recognised as an outstanding citizen for the service to the motherland, was appointed to the Board of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC, on 2nd May 2003 and has been the Chairman of the Company since. He was appointed to the Board of Aitken Spence PLC and has been the Chairman of the Company since 25th April 2003.

As a visionary entrepreneur, he leads many enterprises in diverse fields to achieve great success. He is the Founder Director and current Chairman/Managing Director of the Stassen Group of Companies, and is the Chairman of Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC, Browns Beach Hotels PLC, Balangoda Plantations PLC, Madulsima Plantations PLC, Melstacorp PLC, Ambewela Livestock Company Ltd, Lanka Bell Ltd and the Chairman of the Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC. He is also a director of several other listed and privately held companies in Sri Lanka and is a former Director of Hatton National Bank PLC, the largest listed bank in Sri Lanka.

Mr. Jayawardena has been appointed to lead large public sector institutions and is a former Chairman of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Sri Lankan Airlines (two stints).

In 2005 Mr. Jayawardena was awarded the prestigious title, “Deshamanya” in recognition of his services to the Motherland.

He is presently the Honorary Consul for Denmark and on 9th February 2010, was knighted by Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark with the prestigious honour of “Knight Cross of Dannebrog”.

Ms. D.S.T. Jayawardena
Joint Deputy Chairperson / Joint Managing Director
Appointed in July 2014

Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena marks several milestones for Aitken Spence PLC and Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC as the youngest Board Member, and the first female member on the Board. Ms. Jayawardena heads the Tourism sector of Aitken Spence PLC inclusive of hotels, destination management and overseas travel.

With a career spanning over 10 years at Aitken Spence, she wields a fresh perspective in management and leads strategic business units across the Group. She leads several key strategic teams as the Chairperson of Aitken Spence Hotel Managements (Pvt) Ltd., as a member on the Board of Directors of Aitken Spence PLC, Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC, Stassen Group, Lanka Milk Foods (CWE) PLC, Aitken Spence Aviation (Pvt) Ltd, Western Power Company (Pvt) Ltd. She was appointed to the Board of Directors of Melstacorp PLC and Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka in September 2022.

A graduate of St. James’ & Lucie Clayton College and Keele University in the United Kingdom, and Emeritus Institute of Management, Singapore – Ms. Jayawardena made waves from a young age. Ms. Jayawardena was the youngest intern to work under US Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton and the Former US President Bill Clinton in 2003; and was appointed as the Sri Lankan Ambassador for EY NextGen Club from 2017 to 2019.

Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena was appointed to the Executive Board of The Hotel Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) and represents THASL at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Committee since 2019. She is an Executive Committee Member at the International Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka since 2020 and a Steering Committee Member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Tourism. She was appointed as Chairperson of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) Hotels and Tourism Employers Group for the financial year 2020/21. Ms. Jayawardena is also a member of the PWC NextGen Advisory Board.

Ms. Jayawardena represents the Company as the Ambassador from Aitken Spence PLC at the Target Gender Equality initiative of the UN Global Compact since 2020. She is also a member of the Austrian Business Circle in Sri Lanka.

In recognition of her work and commitment to inspire, she was recognized at Top 50 Professional & Career Women Awards in Sri Lanka with a Gold award in the Hotel & Hospitality Sector in 2017, and in 2020 by Sri Lankan business magazine, Echelon, listing her among the most innovative and influential young leaders who have succeeded in business and shaping the future of Sri Lanka.

Ms. Jayawardena became the award recipient of the Expatriate Contribution Award – Gold category by Women in Management Maldives. The Professional and Career Women Awards Maldives 2022 presented this award to Ms. Jayawardena for her exceptional contributions and achievements in the field of Hotel & Hospitality.

Her passion remains in designing the next generation of business with the core values of integrity, sustainability, empowerment, and equal opportunities. She believes driving her business decisions by using data and technology.

Dr. M.P. Dissanayake
Managing Director
Appointed in March 2019

Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake is the Managing Director of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC with effect from 15th March 2019. He is also the Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC.

Prior to this appointment he was Secretary to the Cabinet Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Southern Development.

He was appointed as the first non-British International President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers U.K. founded in 1911 and Royal Charter conferred in 1920.

Dr. Dissanayake has also held positions in the past that include, Chairman – Sri Lanka Ports Authority (two stints), Chairman – Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (Sri Lanka), Board Director – Urban Development Authority and Board Director – Ceylon Shipping Corporation Limited.

During the period June 2004 to May 2017, he served as a Director of Aitken Spence PLC and the Chairman & CEO of its Maritime & Freight Logistics sector.

Dr. Dissanayake is an Alumni of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, NORAD, JICA, Business Alumni of the University of Oxford (UK) and a Fellow of Harvard Business School USA (EEP) and University of Cambridge UK (EEP).

He is also Chairman of Elpitiya Plantations PLC, Aitken Spence Plantation Managements PLC, Co-Chairman/Professor CINEC Campus, Hon. Consul of Fiji Islands and serves as a Professor in Maritime Studies (visiting) at Shanghai Maritime University and Dalian Maritime University.

Mr. C.M.S. Jayawickrama
Executive Director
Appointed in April 2005

Mr. Susith Jayawickrama has had a career spanning over three decades with Aitken Spence and is the Joint Managing Director of Aitken Spence Hotel Managements (Private) Limited, which manages all hotels of the Group. Mr. Jayawickrama serves on the Aitken Spence Group Management Council and on the Boards of most hotel companies in the Group including that of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC. He is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants UK; he has more than three decades of experience in senior management positions in the Group’s hotel sector and the tourism industry in Sri Lanka and Overseas. Mr. Jayawickrama is a past Vice President of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL).

Mr. J.M.S. Brito
Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed in July 2001

Mr. Rajan Brito joined the Board of Aitken Spence PLC in April 2000, with a multidiscipline academic background and a wealth of experience from a career counting over 40 years that includes experience working with several international organisations. He was then appointed as the Managing Director of Aitken Spence PLC, in December 2001 and Deputy Chairman in April 2003 which position he held until his retirement on 15th March 2019. After retirement, Mr Brito continues to be a Non-Executive Director of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC.

Mr. Brito is an acclaimed senior professional in both the private and the public sector industries in Sri Lanka. He is a former Chairman of DFCC Bank, Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, Sri Lankan Airlines, and has also served on the Board of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation. He holds an LLB degree from University of London, an MBA from London City Business School and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of both Sri Lanka and England and Wales.

Mr. R.N. Asirwatham
Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed in September 2009

Mr. Asirwatham was appointed to the Board of Aitken Spence PLC, in September 2009. At present, he is the Chairman of the Audit Committee, Related Party Transactions Review Committee, a member of the Remuneration Committee and the Nomination Committee.

He was the Senior Partner and Country Head of KPMG from 2001 to 2008. Further, he was the Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Sustainable Tourism Project funded by the World Bank for the Ministry of Tourism and was also a member of the Presidential Commission on Taxation, appointed by His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike National Memorial Foundation and the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of Strategic Studies.

Mr. Asirwatham is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and the Chairman of it’s Audit Committee. He also serves on the Boards of Dilmah Tea Services PLC, Royal Ceramics PLC, Browns Beach Hotels PLC, Vallibel One PLC, Ceylon Grain Elevators PLC, and several other companies.

Mr. N.J. De Silva Deva Aditya
Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed in July 2010

The Honourable N. J. de Silva Deva Aditya (Nirj Deva) DL FRSA, Presidential Envoy of Sri Lanka to the EU and the Commonwealth of 56 Nations and Senior Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka, former Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons and Member of the European Parliament, joined the Board of Directors of Aitken Spence in 2006/07.

He was the first Post War Asian born Conservative Member of the British House of Commons and served in Government as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Scottish Office after which he was elected as the first Asian born British Member of the European Parliament representing over 8 million, British people in Berkshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent for 20 years.

He was the Vice President of the International Development Committee for 15 years, overseeing the Euro 25 billion European Budget. He was the Chairman of the EU Korean Peninsula Delegation working towards a lasting peace with North Korea, Chairman of the EU China, EU Bangladesh, EU Indonesia, EU Myanmar and EU India Friendship Groups in the EU Parliament and was nominated by his political group ECR to be the president of the European Parliament and was the Chairman of the EU Delegation to the UN General Assembly.

For his Tsunami Relief work he was made a Chevalier of the Catholic Church and Vishwa Keerthi Sri Lanka Abhimani by the Buddhist Clergy of Sri Lanka. He is the Publisher of the http://www. commonwealthunion.com the global media platform, the first Commonwealth wide news and TV media reaching out to 2.4 billion people and seen regularly by 12 million. He was appointed Presidential Envoy and Senior Advisor in August 2022.

Mr. C.H Gomez
Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointed in September 2010

Mr. Charles Gomez is a former Banker with over 40 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major financial institutions including Barclays Bank PLC, Lloyds TSB Bank PLC, and SG Hambros. He brings to the Company a wealth of experience in regard to international financial markets, financial services regulations, compliance and controls and it was through his intervention that major investors were brought into Aitken Spence PLC, and to other business sectors in Sri Lanka. Mr. Gomez is a Director as well as a part owner of regulated financial services companies based in Gibraltar. He also serves on the Boards of foreign companies which have investments worldwide.

Mr. Gomez was appointed to the Board of Aitken Spence PLC, in 2002 and to the Board of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC, in 2010. His role in the companies is that of an Independent Non-Executive Director. He also serves in the Audit Committee, Related Party Transactions Review Committee and the Remuneration Committee.

Mr. M.A.N.S. Perera
Non-Independent, Non-Executive Director
Appointed in April 2023

Mr. Perera is an experienced professional with a diverse background in finance, investment, and strategic leadership. He joined the Board of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC in April 2023 and holds the position of Managing Director at Melstacorp PLC. He also serves as a Board member for Aitken Spence PLC, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC, and Browns Beach Hotels PLC.

Mr. Perera holds an MBA from the University of Cambridge and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Sri Lanka. He is also a Certified Management Accountant and has other qualifications and exposure to investment and financial strategy, risk management and international tax planning.

Having started his UK career with PWC-London he spent close to two decades in London’s financial and technology hub. During this time, he led and contributed to strategic projects with global top tier banks such as JP Morgan, ING, Bank of Montreal, National Australia Bank, and BNP Paribas. Notably, he played a crucial role in establishing two international investment banks and a FinTech banking institution in London. During his tenure, he assumed various leadership positions including Finance Director, Chief Financial Officer, Head of Strategy, and part-time Chief Risk Officer.

Mr. Perera possesses extensive experience in financial and investment strategy, specializing in restructuring, turnaround, mergers and acquisitions, and leading strategic and economic research initiatives. His professional endeavours have taken him across Europe, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Southern Africa, accumulating over 25 years of international expertise.

Dr. R.A. Fernando
Independent, Non-Executive Director
Appointed in January 2024

Dr. Fernando was appointed to the Board of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC, in January 2024.

He is an Alumni of the University of Cambridge having completed both a Post Graduate Certificate and Master of Studies in Sustainability Leadership in 2014. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration Degree from the European Business School in 2016. He completed the Advanced Management Program at the INSEAD Business School (France) and is an Executive in Residence since 2010. He also has an MBA from the University of Colombo.

In April 2020, he created the ‘21st Century Board Leadership Model-MasterClass’© for the Institute of Directors of Luxembourg which ran between 2020-2023. In February 2023, he published ‘21st Century Leadership to Fight the Code Red for Business’ Archway Publishing.

He is the Chairman/CEO of Global Strategic Corporate Sustainability Pvt. Ltd. His career with Multinationals spanned 1981-2007 with Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser, Smithkline Beecham International covering Africa, Middle East and Asia. He was the first CEO of the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology 2008-2011 and Operations Director of the Malaysia Blue Ocean Strategy Institute 2011- 2016. He was the first UN Global Compact Focal point 2007 and set up the UNGC Sri Lanka Network.

He also serves on the Board of Study at the PIM (Post Graduate Institute of Management) and is a visiting faculty member.

He serves on the Boards of LOLC Holdings PLC, Ceylon Graphene Technologies Ltd, Melstacorp PLC, Aitken Spence Plantation Managements PLC, Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka PLC, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC, UN Global Compact and Ceylon Asset Management Ltd.

In 2007, he won the “Global Strategy Leadership award”, presented to him by Professor Renee Mauborgne of INSEAD at the World Strategy summit.