Find out more about our team members below
Management Team
Nimesh Fernando
Chief Executive OfficerNimesh Fernando
Chief Executive OfficerMr. Nimesh Fernando has nearly 25 years of leadership experience in banking, finance, fintech, and research. He has held key positions including Head of iPay at LOLC Finance PLC, Head of Asset Backed and SME Products at Commercial Leasing & Finance PLC, Head of Cards at Nations Trust Bank, Chief Manager – Cards at Seylan Bank, and senior leadership positions at HSBC. Early in his career, he gained valuable experience at People’s Bank, ACNielsen, LMRB, and Freight International. He holds a Master of Business Administration (UK) and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK).
Wishva Kantha Wickramaarachchi
Chief Financial OfficerWishva Kantha Wickramaarachchi
Chief Financial OfficerWishva Kantha Wickramaarachchi has 20 years of experience in finance and business management in diversified fields ranging from mass communication, manufacturing, BPO to more specialized in to banking and finance. He holds a fellow membership of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK) with over 17 years of post-qualifying experience. He also holds a BSc Economics & Management (London School of Economics & Political Science from University of London, UK). He also holds a post graduate diploma in Business and Finance conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka with a merit award and a MBA from Harriot Watt University from Edinburgh Business School in Scotland. Further More, he has completed 2 professional diplomas in Diploma in Treasury and Risk Management from Sri Lanka Institute of Bankers and Diploma in Taxation from The Chartered Institute of Taxation in Sri Lanka.
Pradeep Kumara
Head of Field OperationsPradeep Kumara
Head of Field OperationsMr. Kumara has vast experience in community development and micro finance. From 1995 to 1997 he worked as Project Coordinator of 3 projects implemented by Praja Sanvidhana Jathika Sansadaya (NGO). The 3 projects were day banking, nutrition and health and garbage and paper recycling. In 1997 he joined the Fisheries Bank Project of the Ministry of Fisheries as Manager of a Fisheries Bank. In 2001 he joined Prajasahana Padanama, a NGO, and worked as project coordinator. In 2006 he joined Lak Jaya Micro. He was as Branch Manager from 2006 to 2007 and got promoted to District Manager in 2007. In 2009, he was promoted to Central Monitor’s grade and in 2010 he was promoted to Head of Operations. Mr. Kumara has passed his GCE A/L and completed two parts of B. A. Degree in Sri Jayawardenapua University. He has obtained a Diploma of Microfinance from University of Colombo in 2011.
Minhaj Hussain
Head of ITMinhaj Hussain
Head of ITMr. Hussain was employed as a Project Manager at Virtusa Pvt Ltd., a NASDAQ quoted company, before starting at Lak Jaya in 2009. He holds a Professional Diploma in Information Technology from British Computer Society and relevant certifications in the field of Information Technology. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the IT Industry, with experience in IT Infrastructure Management, Network Administration, Systems Administration, Software and Database Development and Training.
Sarath Edirisinghe
Head of Administration, Human Resources and trainingSarath Edirisinghe
Head of Administration, Human Resources and trainingMr. Edirisinghe holds a B. A. Degree in Social Science from Colombo University. He started his career as business promotion executive in Janashakthi Insurance Company in 2001. From 2003 to 2007 he served as a Regional Manager and a member of the Board of Directors of Development Financial Cooperation Ltd., which provided micro finance services in 8 districts. In 2007 he joined Lak Jaya as a District Manager and in 2010 he was promoted as Central Monitor. In 2016 he was appointed as Head of Training of Lak Jaya. He has undergone training in the fields of Business Promotion, Credit Operations and a Microfinance Training programme conducted by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in 2010. He has successfully completed a postgraduate diploma in Applied Sociology at Colombo University, and Microfinance Training of Trainers course at the Asian Development Bank Institute. He completed the Credit Risk and Delinquency Management training course in Bangkok, Thailand in 2019.
Shantha Bandara Herath
Head of Internal AuditShantha Bandara Herath
Head of Internal AuditMr. Herath has two years of experience as Branch Manager in Lak Jaya, 10 years of experience in the internal audit department, five years as Assistant manager internal audit and five years as Internal audit manager. He has followed Business level in Chartered accountants of Sri Lanka and completed the intermediate level under the old syllabus in the same institution. Mr. Herath has a bachelor degree in Economics Special at University of Peradeniya (2007) and he also completed the advanced network and file sharing computer certificate course conducted by Arthur C Clack Training canter in Moratuwa. Furthermore, he has successfully completed ICT Skills Development of Undergraduate in Arts, Commerce & Management Streams, Web Designing & Development Course, at the Information Technology Centre, University of Peradeniya.
Board of Directors
Martijn Bollen
Martijn Bollen
Martijn Bollen is the Chief Compliance, Legal and Risk Officer (‘CCLRO’) of ASA International, having been the General Counsel of the Group since 2007. Mr Bollen has over 15 years of experience in the microfinance industry. He also serves as the General Counsel of Catalyst Microfinance Investors (‘CMI’) and has worked with Sequoia BV since 2005. Mr Bollen worked as an Attorney-at-Law in the banking and finance department of Loyens & Loeff from 2000 to 2004 and from 2004-2005 held roles as in-house counsel and Attorney-at-Law.
Mohammed Azim Hossain
Mohammed Azim Hossain
Azim Hossain assumed the role of Chief of Operations ('CO') of ASA International in July 2023, having served as the Group's Director of Investment, Treasury and Risk Management since 2005. Mr Hossain has over 34 years of experience in the microfinance industry, having worked for 20 years at ASA NGO Bangladesh, where he held various positions including Director of Finance & MIS and Senior Finance Professional. At ASA Bangladesh, Mr Hossain established the finance and MIS systems, was involved in the development and design of the AMMS, assisted in the establishment of risk management frameworks and was in charge of the NGO Partnership Programme, providing technical and financial assistance to microfinance institutions. He has also worked with the UNDP MicroStart programme in the Philippines and Nigeria, where he was responsible for development, products and services, financial management, performance analysis and business planning.
Shyamalie Amaratunga
Shyamalie Amaratunga
Ms. Amaratunga has over 28 years of experience in Merchant Banking and Finance Industries. She served as Head of several divisions of Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka & Finance PLC such as Treasury, Trade Finance, Credit Administration, Strategic Planning, Risk Management, Merger Implementation and Compliance Divisions. She also has extensive experience in Credit Management, Recoveries, Balance Scorecard Performance Management System Mergers & Acquisition processes, Restructuring, Finance and Cost Accounting and Human Resources. Until 2018, she was the Senior Deputy General Manager / Compliance of Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka and oversaw Credit Administration, Risk Management and Compliance Divisions and Strategic Planning process of the Company. She holds a MBA from the Postgraduate Institute of Management (University of Sri Jayewardenepura) and a Postgraduate Diploma Level Certificate for Modern Commercial Banking from PIM. She also holds a B. Com (Special) Degree from University of Jayewardenepura. Currently she serves as a Management Consultant and an independent Board Director.