About Us

An accomplished and respected senior commercial banker with expertise and experience in retail and development banking, Chandula has a proven track record of over 30 years and is recognized in Asia as an expert in financial inclusion. Chandula spearheaded the retail and development banking strategy as the Deputy General Manager of Hatton National Bank (HNB) and provided management and strategic direction of HNB’s SME and microfinance portfolios for which he was responsible. During his tenure at HNB the bank was awarded the ‘Best Retail Bank Award’ by Asia Money for 7 consecutive years.

Chandula is the co-founder of ATH PAVURA, Sri Lanka’s first reality TV show for social entrepreneurs, the Chairman of the Banking with The Poor Network (BWTP), Asia’s largest microfinance network, an advisor on financial inclusion to the Asian Bankers Association (ABA), and the Chairman of CSR SRI LANKA. He also serves on a number of boards of both local and international financial institutions. Chandula is also the national Apex body for Corporate Social Responsibility, representing the largest number of private sector companies.

Eranda is the founder of Social Enterprise Lanka, a pioneering initiative to develop the social enterprise sector in Sri Lanka. He was the former Head of Innovation, Partnerships and Business Development at the British Council in Sri Lanka. He holds a Master’s degree in Project Management specialising in Business Administration from the University of Southern Queensland Australia. Eranda is a pioneer in developing graduate entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka. He has developed a number of programmes such as the popular enterprise reality TV show IDEATORS and has developed many institutional partnerships between the public, private and development sector organisations.

Jonathan is an investment banker working in the second largest private commercial bank Hatton National Bank (HNB) where he has extensive experience in capital markets, treasury and global markets. Prior to joining HNB Jonathan worked as a Finance Analyst at PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Probe Group Australia as a Tax Consultant.

Jonathan is also the co-founder of Clubhouse Vivaldi, a sought after clothing brand specializing in trendy inner-wear in Sri-Lanka. He is also a member of the Global Shapers Hub, Colombo -an initiative of the World Economic Forum-.

Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Commerce Majoring in Accounting and Finance from Monash University Australia and is a CFA Level 3 Candidate.

Puvaneswary Ponniah (Puva) is a development professional with 15 years of experience in program delivery in Sri Lanka during conflict, post-war and emergency situations. She has extensive technical experience in the development of gender equality and social inclusion strategic planning and implementation. Puva is a skilled practioner in project design, strategy and implementation, applying a gender lens to her work. She has mobilized women’s groups for socio-economic empowerment, entrepreneurship development and collective income generation activities. Puva is a trainer, facilitator, and mentor for various gender and M&E concepts and tools and representing many forums. Her areas of interest include social enterprise development, diversity and inclusion, women in business, impact investment

Roshan is a Specialist in Development Practice, Monitoring and Evaluation, Disaster Management, and Marketing. Covers over a decade of experience in Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, further 09 plus years in Project Management, Customer Service and Marketing. Prior joining LIIN he has worked at UNDP as M & E focal for Country Office Sri Lanka, and World Vision under serval key capacities as a Development Practitioner, M & E, Disaster Management Coordinator, and Team Leader for Comet Cable customer service center.

Roshan also holds 02 Master’s Degrees (Development Practice, Business Administration in Marketing) and 02 Bachelor’s Degrees in Social Science and Community Development Leadership. Skilled in evaluations, facilitating strategic planning, tech savvy in Arc GIS, and other analysis software for evaluations and data visualization. Additionally, a nature lover, a philanthropist, and serve as Vice President of Lions Club of Colombo Ceylon Excellence.

Erandi holds a Bachelor of Business Management in Business Administration and Management from Association of Business Executives (ABE) - UK and is currently working in Lanka Impact Investing Network as an Manager - Projects & Consulting.

Vishan holds a B.A. (Hons) Degree in International Business and Finance from the University of West of Scotland and is currently following the strategic level of CIMA. He is also a AAT Passed Finalist.

Prior to joining LIIN, Vishan worked in the Corporate Finance division of BDO Consulting (Pvt) Limited where he gained extensive experience by performing financial due diligences for companies in the hotel, retail and maas communication industries. He also performed business valuations and took part in strategic planning assignments for corporate companies.

Danielle is in her fourth year of studies at the University of Waterloo. She is currently working towards a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (B.ES), majoring in International Development with focuses in Environmental Sustainability and Sociology. While primarily working in Canada, Danielle has also studied and worked internationally, in India, Bosnia, Croatia, Guatemala and the United States.

Danielle was previously a member of the Greenhouse program, a social and environmental entrepreneurship incubator at the University of Waterloo. While there Danielle helped in building a social enterprise promoting mental health literacy, education and research. Danielle has an interest in youth engagement and entrepreneurship, as she previously worked with youth to establish businesses which have an a social impact and are sustainable focused.

In the year of 1981, following his life-long dream to become a commercial and advertising film maker, he graduated at Bryan Ward Commercial Film Making Academy in the United Kingdom. Being a leading entrepreneur in the country today, he began this journey in 1984 when he commenced the Photografix Commercial and Advertising Studios and Kent Group of Companies. The consistent entrepreneurial success and unwavering commitment to promoting innovative entrepreneurship of this personality are visible for three decades under his transformational leadership of Kent Group of Companies that embodies 11 independent companies and approximately 950-employee workforce. In recognition of his sustained success and achievements in the world of entrepreneurship, he was awarded the National Platinum Award for the Sri Lankan Entrepreneur in 2014.

Harsha is well known as an entrepreneur who initiated his journey at the age of 19 who is now responsible for 3 companies with world class products in the software domain. He perceived Microimage during his school days in 1993 along with few other college students and moving forward, it was consolidated as Microimage (Private) limited in 1995 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Harsha evolved the company to become one of the top notch innovative software development companies in Sri Lanka and also established its presence globally. Moving forth, in 2007 Microimage Mobile Media was born, in the intention of improving Media/Broadcast, Digital Convergence and implementing Mobile Applications. At present, Microimage owns the story of being the most successful college start up in the ICT industry of Sri Lanka. Harsha was acknowledged as the “Most Outstanding Entrepreneur in the ICT/BPO Industry of Sri Lanka in 2007″. In 2011, he acquired the CMO-Asia Brand Leadership Award in Singapore, paving the way to draw attention of the Asians in the IT domain. He was also one of the 21 selected globally for the “2014 Eisenhower Innovation Fellowship” granted by the Eisenhower Fellowship in the US. Harsha was also opted for the list of 40 Business Leaders listing compiled by Echelon Magazine – A leading business magazine in Sri Lanka. Harsha polished off executive education at Harvard Business School, USA. He holds the memberships of the ICT/BPO advisory committee of Export Development Board of Sri Lanka and young leaders committee of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Upul Daranagama is the Chairman of Horizon Group, Malabe, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Oxford College of Business & Joint Managing Director of Centre for Professional Studies (CFPS), Colombo. He completed his tertiary education obtaining a B.Sc(Acc.FM) from the University of Jayawardenapura, one of the largest state universities in Sri Lanka. He holds the Fellowship in Association of Business Executive of the UK, Diploma in Human Resource Management and holds membership in the Association of Accounting Technicians of Sri Lanka, followed by a Master of Business Administration (MBA), obtained from the University of Leicester, UK. On his return to Sri Lanka, with his strong academic background and a firm confidence in his entrepreneurial skills, Mr. Daranagama focused his attention on education and sought to establish Oxford College of Business (OCB) in the heart of the city of Colombo in 2002. On the success of Oxford College, Mr. Daranagama took a larger stride to establish Horizon College International which is an International School(HCI)following the Edexcel curriculum and the Horizon College of Business & Technology (Pvt) Ltd (Horizon Campus). HCI, currently boasts a student population of well over 1800, having commenced its life a mere 6 years ago. Horizon Campus, which is the higher education arm of Horizon Group, is situated in the green and lush, picturesque environment of Malabe in the outskirts of Colombo. It is a UGC/MoHE approved degree awarding institution in its own right, providing local degree opportunities as well as degrees which are offered in affiliation with the partner universities from the UK, USA & Malaysia. The vision and mission of Mr.Upul Daaranagama is simply to create viable educational opportunities for students from every walk of life, commencing from primary education to post Graduate qualifications, which he has succeeded in achieving through the 4 institutions that he founded and leads at present.

Dr Nirmal De Silva is a multi-award winning business professional and has close to two decades of ‘C Level’ experience where he has provided leadership to a number of Multi National and Fortune 500 companies in industries such as Technology, Real Estate, Advisory Services & Consultancy. Over the last few years his focus has been on the Real Estate Industry, Strategy Consulting, Social Enterprises and Start-ups.

Dr. De Silva is currently serving as the Co-Founder /CEO of Paramount Realty which is a Real Estate Advisory that provides services across Asia. He is also the Founder of TYNA Consulting which is a Boutique Consultancy focused on Strategy, Leadership, Strategic Power Play & Transformational Interventions particularly for SME’s and Social Enterprises. In addition Dr. De Silva serves on the board of a number of companies in diverse industries such as agriculture, food & beverage, technology, handicrafts, education, learning & development, facilities management, portfolio investment, professional services, digital entertainment, consumer goods & lifestyle services.

Not only is Dr. De Silva a well-respected thought leader, he is also a much sought after Start up Mentor, Impact Investor & Public Speaker. He is also an important influencer in shaping up the start -up and social enterprise eco-system in the country. Dr. De Silva is a pioneer member of the revolutionary ‘Ath Pavura’ (the world’s first ever reality TV program) which supports social enterprises through impact investments. Similarly Dr. De Silva is a Global Mentor for Faster Capital based in the Middle East and the world renowned Mentor Capital Network- USA

On an academic front Dr. De Silva is a visiting lecturer & thesis supervisor for doctoral level programs in a number of local and international universities.

Vishwanath is a banking/agriculture professional with more than 30 years of experience in Agri, Micro and SME Finance and Development Banking including Financial Inclusion, Entrepreneurship Development and Project management. He was a member of the Hatton National Bank’s Senior Management team heading and handling direct responsibilities of HNB Micro Finance and Development Banking arm. He has been awarded with the “Appreciation of Excellence Service” award from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka for the delivery of Development Credit Lines implemented by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. During his tenure, HNB has received multiple awards for the areas of Financial Inclusion and Micro Finance, some being the Best Practice Award for enhancing impact through cross sector partnerships, at the IFAD – Global Forum on Remittance-2013, Asian Bank Awards-2017– as the Best Micro Finance Product of the year at Asia Pacific Awards for value chain finance, International Finance Award-2017 –as the Most Innovative Micro Finance Bank in Sri Lanka and International Finance Award -2018 as the Best Micro Finance Bank in Sri Lanka. He has implemented and managed various projects with IFAD, USAID, SBFIC, World Bank, Gates Foundation, BWTP and many local Corporates and has gained international exposure from various countries.

Amal worked as an Assistant Manager - Operations and Investor Relations in the company.

Dulanjana Gamage is an accomplished professional with a remarkable track record in the field of Entrepreneurship Development. Holding the esteemed position of Executive at LIIN for over a year, Dulanjana has demonstrated exceptional expertise and dedication in his role. Graduating with first-class honors in 'BBA (Hons) Specializing in Marketing Management,' Dulanjana's academic foundation reflects his commitment to excellence. His educational background has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of marketing dynamics, which he seamlessly integrates into his role. At LIIN, Dulanjana spearheads the Platform for Inclusive Entrepreneurship Program, a pivotal initiative that receives funding from prestigious entities like the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Through his visionary leadership, Dulanjana has not only upheld the program's objectives but also driven its growth and impact. Dulanjana's expertise goes beyond theory, as he leverages his extensive experience to create tangible results. His tenure at LIIN has witnessed the successful implementation of strategic initiatives that have contributed to the empowerment and growth of entrepreneurs. His forward-thinking approach, coupled with his ability to navigate complex challenges, has made him a driving force in promoting inclusive entrepreneurship.

Supeshala is currently pursuing a Master of Entrepreneurship at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, building upon her prior higher education in Entrepreneurship. With over 3 years of experience in business development across several sectors, she brings valuable expertise to the table. Her interests span social enterprise development, diversity, and inclusion, as well as empowering women in business.

Iresha adeptly coordinated and supported various projects within both the private and government sectors, successfully navigating the realms of project management and marketing with over 7 years of professional experience. She is currently following the final stage of her BA(Hons) Management and Leadership Degree at the National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) and completed an advanced certificate of Human Resource Management at Charted Institute of Personal Management (CIPM).

Hasitha holds a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (equal B.com) from Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education (SLIATE) and is currently following the Managerial level of CMA at Institute of Certified Management Accounts of Sri Lanka. He has more than eight years of experience in Lanka Financial Services for Underserved Settlements (Guarantee) Ltd as an Executive – Accounts & Projects, RD Partners (Chartered Accountants & Tax Consultant) as an Accounts & Audit Trainee and Royal Ceramics Lanka PLC as an Junior Audit Executive.

Anushi holds a BSc in Business and Environment degree programme from the University of Colombo and a Master’s degree in Business Administration in Business Analytics from Cardiff Metropolitan University. She has gained a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between business operations and sustainability considerations which enables her to analyze projects within the context of sustainable development and make data-driven strategic decisions. With over 3 Years of experience in business development and coordinating across several sectors, she has demonstrated expertise in sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Currently, she is working in Lanka Impact Investing Network as a trainee Executive- Business Advisory.

I am K. Dishalahini, a fresh recent graduate with a Bachelor of Business Management Honors in Project Management at University of Vavuniya Having keen interest in entrepreneurship, Having good knowledge at business world and Drawing from a diverse range of experiences in both the private and government sectors, have successfully managed and executed projects with a focus on Agile Hybrid methodologies. And having good sounds at Strategic Management. Coupled with a solid understanding of IT, software, positions me as a dynamic professional ready to tackle complex challenges. With a passion for entrepreneurship and a commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends, I am well-equipped to drive innovation and deliver results in today's dynamic business environment." currently working in Lanka Impact Investing Network as ‘Executive – Program Support Services’.

Basim holds a B.Sc. Degree in Information Technology (Specialization in IT) from Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) and is currently working in Lanka Impact Investing Network as an Executive - Platforms & Technology.