M. J. C. Amarasuriya
Mahendra J. C. Amarasuriya | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sri Lanka |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, Philanthropist |
| Known for | Former chairman of Commercial Bank of Ceylon; President of Lions Clubs International |
Mahendra J. C. Amarasuriya is a distinguished Sri Lankan banker and philanthropist, recognized for his tenure as the former chairman of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon and as a previous president of Lions Clubs International.
Early life
Mahendra, son of Thomas Amarasuriya, OBE, who served as President of the Senate of Ceylon, received his education at Royal College, Colombo and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Ceylon. He further enhanced his expertise through training at the International Institute for Management Development.
Career
In 1986, Amarasuriya became a member of the Board at the Commercial Bank of Ceylon, ascending to the position of Chairman in 1995. He currently holds more than 447,000 voting shares along with 151,000 non-voting shares. His stewardship has played a pivotal role in shaping the bank’s strategic initiatives and strengthening its market standing.
He also leads as Chairman of Pelwatte Sugar Industries Ltd., Serendib Flour Mills (Pvt) Ltd., Equity Investments Lanka Ltd., Unawatuna Beach Resorts Ltd., and the Lions Clubs International Foundation. Previously, he held leadership positions including Chairman of United Motors Lanka PLC, JBIZ (Joint Business Forum of Chambers of Commerce and Industry), Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, National Agribusiness Council, International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka, Commercial Fund Management (Pvt) Ltd., and served as Deputy Chairman at Hayleys.
Following in his father’s footsteps within Sri Lanka’s tea sector, Amarasuriya took on the chairmanship nearly forty years later. His approach to business is marked by diversification across sectors such as finance, agribusiness, manufacturing, and hospitality.
A devoted Buddhist and active philanthropist, he participates on the committee overseeing the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Fund. His election as President of Lions Clubs International in 2006 underscores his leadership on an international nonprofit platform.