Leadership grounded in science, scholarship and stewardship.

The business legacy of Dr. Sena Yaddehige spans not only time but also the depth of multiple industries and sectors. Renowned as a pioneer in the field of engineering and as a revered global business icon, Dr. Yaddehige is also a Swiss-based industrialist, with numerous ventures in multiple countries.

Under the leadership of Dr. Yaddehige, Richard Pieris Group has evolved into one of the leading diversified business conglomerates in Sri Lanka with the footprint extending from manufacturing, to exports, to retail, to plantations, to financial services, creating value across the national economy in multiple sectors. Dr. Yaddehige also served as a Director on the Board of the National Development Bank PLC (NDB) from 2007 to 2010.

As a businessman and industrialist with wide global recognition, his companies are established in the USA, UK, Germany, and Singapore. In addition, Dr. Yaddehige is also the founding Managing Director of a European manufacturing firm, which develops and exports automotive components and systems, which are based on his innovations and conceptions.

His repertoire of innovations and developments includes contactless sensor technology and drive by wire systems. Furthermore, as a radiation specialist, Dr. Yaddehige is also the creator of several other technologies and components in radiation processing, for which he owns several patents from around the world. Locally, he holds the patent for slow release fertiliser, which provides relatively better results than quick release fertilisers while being a safer alternative for the environment. Dr. Yaddehige also pioneered the development unit for lithium batteries in Sri Lanka.

Apart from his professional and scientific accolades, he was awarded with three doctorates, one of which is a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.), awarded as a high commendation for his original findings and research in radiation, radiation processing, Electromechanical sensor technology, Non-contact sensor technology, and automotive pedal systems, and as recognition of his patents in these respective arenas.

Mr. Viville Perera is a Science graduate from Kelaniya University with Second Class Honours and is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the United Kingdom. Mr. Perera has over 33 years’ experience in senior managerial capacities in leading business organizations such as Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, Middleway Ltd. (Ceylinco Group), Amico Group of Companies, and Alliance Finance Co. PLC.

He served as Treasurer from 1992 to 1997 and Vice President from 1999 to 2002 of the Sri Lanka Institute of Packaging. Mr. Perera represented Richard Pieris and Company PLC as an Ex-Co member from 2011 to 2020 and was the Deputy Vice Chairman for 2018/19 and 2019/20 of the Industrial Association of Sri Lanka, an affiliated trade association under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. He was the Chairman of Arpico Insurance PLC from 05th November 2019 to 30th June 2022 and is on the Board of Directors of several companies in the Richard Pieris Group.

Mr. Michael Andree is actively engaged in the corporate sector over 30 years in the senior management including more than 20 years in the capacity of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in reputed Entities, including Managing Director of GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Chief Executive Officer of Richard Pieris Distributors Limited, Chief Executive Officer of Lanka Aluminium Industries Limited and Managing Director of Orit Trading and Orit Apparel Pvt. Limited. He is currently serving as Group Advisor to Sumathi Holdings (Pvt) Limited.

Mr. Michael Andree has gained experience in many industries such as pharmaceuticals, retail, construction, packaging, and apparel, playing several prominent leadership roles that he was entrusted and also making significant contributions to organizational growth and strategic development.

Mr. Andree is also actively involved with several professional bodies. He is a member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing and the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors. He has held leadership positions in industry associations being Chairman of the Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (1996–1998), Senior Vice President of the Sri Lankan Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industries (2001-2007), Secretary of the British Business Association (1999-2001), and Vice Chairman of the Council for Business with Britain (2001–2004).

Mr. Shaminda Yaddehige is an Executive Director and also the Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Mr. Yaddehige was educated at Charter House-United Kingdom and graduated in Chemical Engineering from University College London. In addition, he also possesses a Masters Degree in Business Administration from IE Business School, which is ranked amongst the top 10 business schools in the world.

Mr. Yaddehige worked as a Management Consultant at Price Waterhouse Coopers-UK and also at the world renowned international ultra high net worth banking giant, Credit Suisse of Switzerland. He has extensive experience in international marketing and has built a very strong marketing network in Europe.

Mr. Yaddehige has been in the Directorate of Richard Pieris Exports PLC, Richard Pieris Natural Foams Limited, Richard Pieris Distributors Limited and also in several other companies within the Richard Pieris Group.

Dr. Jayatissa De Costa LL.B. (Cey), LL.M. (Lond), Ph.D (Colombo) is a President's Counsel. He was admitted to the Legal Profession in Sri Lanka in January, 1971 and has an unbroken practice of more than 53 years at Bar specializing in Civil Matters. In addition, he has held numerous positions both in the Public Sector and Private Sector including the Chairmanship of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka and membership of the Law Commission. He was also the Principal of Sri Lanka Law College. Dr. Jayatissa De Costa had functioned as a Law Lecturer in a number of universities both at home and abroad and has published a large number of books in Law. He had his education at Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, London School of Economics and Political Science, School of Oriental and African Studies and Kings' College, University of London.

Mr. Fernandopulle is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka.

He is the Managing Director of Mahaweli Coconut Plantations PLC, where he also worked in the capacity of Finance Director and was the former Chairman of Richard Pieris Finance Ltd.

He served on the Board of Chilaw Finance PLC after the takeover by Richard Pieris Finance Ltd until the merger. He has served as a Director of the Coconut Development Authority and Coconut Research Institute and has also served on the Advisory Committee on Coconut at the Ministries of Plantation Industries and Coconut Industries. He has represented Sri Lanka’s Desiccated Coconut Manufacturers Association at the Asian & Pacific Coconut Council.

Mr. Shiron Gooneratne is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and holds an MBA from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom.

Mr. Gooneratne brings a wealth of experience, both from Sri Lanka and overseas. Having trained at Ernst and Young, he has held the positions of Finance Director - GlaxoSmithKline Consumer HealthCare, Chief Financial Officer of Sri Lanka Telecom PLC, Chief Financial Officer of Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC, Group Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Richard Pieris & Company PLC. Currently he functions as a Non-Executive Director of Richard Pieris & Company PLC.

Mr. Udeni K Samararatne is an experienced Senior Finance Professional with a career spanning over thirty-five years. He has worked in senior finance positions in quoted companies such as Sri Lanka Telecom plc which is one of Sri Lanka’s largest companies where he worked as the Chief Financial Officer. He has worked in senior positions in leading companies such as Lanka Ashok Leyland Plc, Kelani Tires plc where he was seconded to the Ceat Tires and ACME plc.

He has also worked in senior positions in Noritake group a leading porcelainware Japanese company, Ferrero a large confectionary manufacturer Ceat group a large tire producer which is joint venture with Kelani Tires plc.

He is qualified in ACCA (UK) and CIMA (UK). He holds an MBA from the Swiss Business School Zurich Switzerland. He holds Masters in Financial Economics and a Masters in International Relations from the University of Colombo.

He is a Board Director of National Credit Guarantee Institute Ltd, Board Director of Peoples Leasing plc, Board Director of Alliance Finance Plc Bangladesh, Board Director of Gadimah Ltd Dubai and formerly a Board Director of Peoples Bank and the Former Chairman of Peoples Travels Ltd.

Mr. Pamuditha Hennayake is a graduate in B.Sc (Finance) with a First Class from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and he is also a Member of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka. He was awarded the CMA President’s award for the best overall performance and he is also a First in Order of Merit Prize holder for three stages in CMA.

He was also a lecturer at various institutes for Accounting Qualifications including ACCA, CMA, B.Sc. in Business Administration.

Currently he is serving as the Chairman of M I Synergy (Pvt) Limited, an IT firm specializing in the FINTEC application workflow and solutions workspace for the financial services sector. He is also a member of the Digitalization Committee at the International Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka.