business & investment

First Capital Treasuries PLC, a subsidiary of First Capital Holdings PLC and JXG (Janashakthi Group), has reinforced its Board with the appointment of Channa de Silva as Chairman, while further strengthening its leadership with the appointment of Dudeepa Ratwatte and Niran Mahawatte as Independent Non-Executive Directors.

The new appointments add extensive expertise in capital markets, treasury, financial markets, risk management, and corporate leadership, further enhancing the Board’s capabilities as First Capital Treasuries continues to strengthen its position within Sri Lanka’s capital markets.

Commenting on the appointments, Manjula Mathews, Chairperson of First Capital Treasuries PLC, said the additions would bring a broader range of skills and perspectives to the Company’s operations.

“The appointments of Channa, Dudeepa, and Niran broaden First Capital Treasuries’ operations with a range of skills and expertise. Their combined experience will provide valuable perspective as the Company continues to pursue its strategic priorities and build long-term value for its stakeholders,” she said.

Channa de Silva, who previously served as an Independent Non-Executive Director, assumes the role of Chairman, bringing extensive experience in Sri Lanka’s capital markets and financial services sector. He currently serves as Chairman of Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC and has held senior positions including Director General/CEO of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka and Executive Director of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka. His corporate career has also included leadership roles at Summit Finance PLC, Pan Asia Bank PLC, and Delmege Group Limited. He is also the Founder Chairman of Capital Media.

Dudeepa Ratwatte brings more than two decades of experience spanning treasury, asset and liability management, financial markets, and risk management across Sri Lanka and Australia. His professional career includes senior treasury and global markets positions at ABN AMRO, Commercial Bank of Ceylon, and Hatton National Bank, alongside leadership experience in funds management and asset and liability management in Australia. His expertise also covers derivatives, foreign exchange, and interest rate risk management.

With more than 30 years of experience in banking, treasury, financial markets, and risk management, Niran Mahawatte further strengthens the Board’s financial markets expertise. He served as Vice President/Head of Treasury at National Development Bank PLC for over 17 years, overseeing areas including foreign exchange, debt markets, liquidity, funding, and market risk. Earlier in his career, he held senior treasury and global markets positions at Deutsche Bank and Commercial Bank of Ceylon.

Following the appointments, the Board of First Capital Treasuries PLC comprises Channa de Silva, Chairman and Independent Non-Executive Director; Sachith Perera, Chief Executive Officer and Non-Independent Executive Director; Manjula Mathews, Dilshan Wirasekara, and Minette Perera, Non-Independent Non-Executive Directors; and Dr. Nishan de Mel, Cilani Wijesinghe, Dudeepa Ratwatte, and Niran Mahawatte, Independent Non-Executive Directors.

Advertising agencies have been invited to nominate representatives to serve on the judging panel of the Effie Awards Sri Lanka 2026, with nominations open until 20 October 2026.

Candidates must be employees of the nominating advertising agency and hold a senior management position, such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Creative Officer, Head of Client Servicing, Head of Planning, or an equivalent role. Nominees are also required to have a minimum of 12 years of experience in the advertising industry.

To be eligible, nominees must represent an agency that has been selected as a finalist at a local or international Effie Awards competition within the past six years. Foreign nationals may also be nominated, provided they are employed by a local agency or company.

Each participating agency is required to submit a detailed and well-crafted profile of its proposed judge, outlining the candidate’s experience and suitability for the judging panel.

While all nominations will be considered, the final selection will be based on the need to create balanced judging panels. As a result, submission of a nomination does not guarantee an invitation to serve as a judge.