Mr. Rasitha Gunawardana holds the position of Independent Non-Executive Director at Richard Pieris Finance Limited. Mr. Rasitha is a seasoned banker with over 38 years of experience in commercial banking. He began his career at Peoples Bank in 1987, holding various key roles including Senior Deputy General Manager of Business Banking, Deputy General Manager of Risk Management, and CEO/General Manager from 2019 to 2020. Under his leadership, Peoples Bank successfully amended its act in Parliament, enabling the issuance of the first Basel 3 compliant debenture note in Sri Lanka and implementing performance-based remuneration systems. His contributions significantly improved the bank’s credit portfolio quality through the introduction of risk-based credit policies and modern banking practices.

Currently, Mr. Rasitha serves as an Independent Director at Hatton National Bank PLC, where he chairs the Board Integrated Risk Management Committee and the Board Recoveries Committee and participates in other key committees. His expertise extends beyond banking; before joining the industry, he gained experience in the plantations, hospitality, and construction sectors. This diverse background is complemented by his Management Accountant qualification and his education at Ananda College, Colombo.

Mr. Rasitha has also held directorships in several public quoted companies, including Peoples Leasing & Finance PLC, Peoples Insurance PLC, and Peoples Merchant Finance PLC, among others. He has gained strategic insights and international exposure through participation in numerous international banking and business conferences, demonstrating strong negotiation and communication skills. A founding member of the Risk Officers Association of the Sri Lanka Banking sector, Mr. Rasitha’s career reflects a commitment to excellence, innovation, and the highest standards of professional integrity.