The Bank of Ceylon has appointed Mr. Y.A. Jayathilaka as its Acting General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Mr. Russel Fonseka, who retires after more than three decades of distinguished service. His appointment marks a new chapter for the nation’s largest state-owned commercial bank as it drives forward its transformation agenda and reinforces its commitment to national service.
Mr. Jayathilaka, who began his banking career at the Bank of Ceylon as a Management Trainee in 1997, brings more than 28 years of industry experience, including over a decade in Assistant General Manager and Deputy General Manager grades.
With over 28 years of experience in the banking sector, Mr. Jayathilaka has gained extensive exposure across a wide range of banking operations. His expertise spans core banking functions including Branch Operations, Credit Operations, Development Banking, and Recovery; Treasury Operations such as Foreign Exchange Trading, Money Markets, Capital Markets, and Investment Management; and Overseas Operations through his tenure at Bank of Ceylon (UK) Limited. He has also led major project implementations in core banking systems, trade finance platforms, workflow automation, and mobile banking applications, and has played a leading role in product development, digital transformation, and innovation.
Mr. Jayathilaka holds a Bachelor of Science (Special) degree in Business Administration from the University of Sri Jayawardenepura and a Master of Business (Finance) from the University of Kelaniya. He also holds a Diploma in Banking and Finance and is an Associate Member of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka. He has completed the Advanced Course in Strategic Management at the Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, as well as the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at INSEAD University, France.
In addition to his executive role at the Bank of Ceylon, Mr. Jayathilaka serves as a Director on the Boards of Property Development Limited, Hotels Colombo (1963) Limited, BOC Property Development and Management (Pvt) Limited, Ceybank Holiday Homes (Pvt) Limited, BOC Management and Support Services (Pvt) Limited, and the Fintech Forum of Sri Lanka.
Under Mr. Jayathilaka’s leadership, the Bank of Ceylon is poised to enter its next phase of growth, enhancing its footprint both locally and internationally, with a renewed focus on customer-centric excellence and digital transformation.
