Governance key to earning public trust
Achieving trust through robust governance is a key aspect of a bank’s success, and Sampath Bank is committed to strong leadership and a well-structured governance framework. The bank recognizes that effective governance begins with the quality of leadership, particularly in a highly regulated environment like Sri Lanka’s banking sector.
Leadership and Governance Structure
The bank’s board level demonstrates a highly diversified leadership structure, with directors drawn from various sectors, including banking, finance, law, and technology. This diversity brings well-balanced perspectives, independent judgment, and robust oversight to the bank’s governance.
The board is headed by Chairman Harsha Amarasekera, who has been instrumental in embedding governance discipline and guiding the bank through economic and operational transitions. Under his stewardship, Sampath Bank has cultivated a future-ready governance mindset, firmly anchored in sustainability and long-term value creation.
Management and Governance
At the management level, Sampath Bank is guided by an experienced and professionally diverse leadership team, headed by Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Sanjaya Gunawardana. This team contributes to the bank’s governance through specialized expertise, sound judgment, and strategic alignment.
The bank’s governance framework is complemented by non-mandatory board committees, which provide additional focused oversight and support overall governance accountability. Governance execution is effectively performed through corporate management, supported by the Three Lines of Defence framework, ensuring independent oversight, transparency, and robust overall accountability across the organization.
In terms of regulatory compliance, Sampath Bank operates within a multi-layered governance environment that encompasses the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), the Colombo Stock Exchange Listing Rules, and the Code of Best Practice on Corporate Governance issued by CA Sri Lanka. The bank recognizes that effective governance cannot be achieved through mechanical compliance alone, but requires a practical understanding of the principles underpinning governance and a clear appreciation of supervisory expectations.
Risk Governance and Management
Sampath Bank adopts a proactive and integrated approach to risk governance, recognizing that risk-taking is an inherent aspect of banking. The bank balances risk appetite with risk control through a Board-approved Risk Appetite Framework. Risk governance is monitored through the Board Integrated Risk Management Committee, which oversees risk strategy, policies, emerging risks, mitigation measures, and regulatory compliance.
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Risk considerations are integrated into decision-making processes, enabling the early detection of emerging risks and ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
Governance Architecture and Awards
Sampath Bank‘s governance architecture can be seen as a model for sustainable growth, adopting a principle-led, integrated approach that extends beyond narrow regulatory compliance. The bank has consolidated overlapping requirements into a unified governance reporting and monitoring framework, applying a common methodology across all regulatory and best practice expectations.
The bank’s governance commitment has been recognized through several awards, including Sri Lanka’s Best Bank for ESG – Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards 2025, and Best Corporate Governance – 2026 award for Sri Lanka by World Finance magazine. These distinctions demonstrate the strength of Sampath Bank‘s governance framework, the transparency of its reporting, and the collaborative efforts of its teams, serving as a sign to the bank’s dedication to governance.
These awards serve as a catalyst to improve governance standards in pursuit of sustainable value creation for all stakeholders. By recognizing Sampath Bank‘s commitment to governance, these awards also highlight the importance of robust governance in the banking sector, and the need for banks to prioritize transparency, accountability, and responsible disclosure, which is essential for natural resource management.
They are a motivation.
It is a notable achievement.
