The ladies of Standard Chartered Sri Lanka’s Country Management Team share insights into how the bank integrates gender equality and women’s empowerment into its policies, leadership, and workplace practices.
Yamuna Silva, Head of Legal, discusses the importance of mentorship, sponsorship, and inclusive policies to ensure equal opportunities in the legal profession and Chamalie Serasinghe, Chief Technology and Operations Officer, explains the bank’s role in providing leadership opportunities and exposure to global markets. Harini Jayaweera, Chief Compliance Officer, focuses on the importance of professional development to build a leadership pipeline, while Rukshila Seneviratne, Head of Human Resources, outlines diversity, well-being, and career growth initiatives. Tamani Dias, Executive Director / Head of Corporate Coverage, discusses flexible work arrangements and work-life balance critical to empowering employees to become the best versions of themselves.
Yamuna Silva: Head of Legal
What are your perspectives on women taking on the legal profession within the financial sector?
Women in the legal profession have already significantly impacted the financial sector.
It must be emphasized that it is essential to continue the present corporate culture with the necessary sponsorships and mentoring of inclusive policies to support women.
More work should also ensure equal opportunities for women at all levels. This is more so due to work-life balance pressures for women, especially those who juggle family responsibilities.
The unconscious biases that creep in when hiring women over men, which have become unintentionally ingrained, should be addressed, and policies should be in place to avoid any such influence which could prevent the career progression of women.
Women should not underestimate themselves, but steer themselves through any stumbling blocks, and do their part to show that any unintentional biases are not warranted and that any career opportunity a man can be seen to be able to handle can be handled by us, too.
Women, too, should take up any career opportunities that may seem hard and be engaged in networking in their profession, as visibility is critical.
So my advice is to always believe in yourself, and then you will most certainly be able to achieve your dreams and goals despite any barriers you will face.
Chamalie Serasinghe: Chief Technology and Operations Officer
How has the bank supported you throughout your long tenure, where you are now leading a large and diverse function?
Standard Chartered has played a key role in my professional journey, giving me many opportunities to learn, grow, and lead effectively. One such opportunity was to gain experience across the Standard Chartered network and the geographies where the bank operates. This exposure has broadened my perspective, allowing me to understand diverse markets, cultures, and business strategies.
Moreover, the bank actively encourages individuals to step beyond their comfort zones. There are ample opportunities to grow across the organization for those willing to take on new challenges. I have benefited from this culture of empowerment, which has allowed me to take on larger responsibilities and develop my leadership capabilities.
Banking is rapidly evolving, and technology is critical in this transformation. Standard Chartered has invested heavily globally in innovative solutions. Being part of the network allowed me to learn, adapt, and apply these advancements in my function.
The bank also understands that different priorities arise at various stages of life. It has created a supportive culture, particularly for female colleagues, ensuring that career growth does not come at the expense of family or cultural priorities. This inclusive environment has allowed me to thrive, balancing personal and professional aspirations while making meaningful contributions.
Harini Jayaweera: Chief Compliance Officer
Can you share with us your experience in overseeing a complex and crucial function for the bank?
My role is to ensure that the bank operates within legal and ethical boundaries while proactively managing risks to support financial stability and stakeholder trust. Compliance is sometimes viewed as rigid, but we strive to approach it with diligence and adaptability, balancing regulatory adherence with practical, business-focused solutions. By integrating our teams into decision-making processes across departments, we have adopted a proactive, compliance-first culture rather than a reactive approach to regulation.
Mentorship and professional development are key priorities for the bank, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help create pathways for growth within our team. Investing in our people strengthens our function and contributes to a more diverse and skilled leadership pipeline within the industry. Ultimately, leading this department is not just about enforcing policies; it’s about building resilience, trust, and a high-performing team that adds value to the bank while supporting broader efforts to promote women in leadership within the financial sector.
Rukshila Seneviratne: Head of Human Resources
What initiatives are you leading to create a more inclusive, supportive, and growth-oriented workplace for employees across all levels?
Continuous commitment to drive a holistic Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) agenda, uncompromised focus on employee well-being, and fostering a culture of high performance forms the foundation for all initiatives we drive at Standard Chartered to ensure that our employees are valued for what they bring to the table and are supported to be their best version at work.
D&I is a part of the bank’s DNA, underpinning the firm’s policy and a valued behaviour framework that guides our business conduct and people practices. The D&I Council in Sri Lanka plays a significant role in driving initiatives around five Global Colleague Communities focusing on essential facets of D&I, and the Council drives a meaningful and exciting events calendar each year. Leading our passionate D&I Council with my co-chair Yamuna, is one of the most fulfilling and enjoyable parts of work life. This year, we have the largest D&I Council, with over 100 employees voluntarily signing up and rallying to bring D&I to life at Standard Chartered Sri Lanka.
My team in Human Resources is committed to driving initiatives around supporting employees to maintain their well-being and that of their loved ones. Some key initiatives are our flexible working arrangements, best-in-class medical insurance scheme, the global Employee Assistance Programme offering preventive and reactive support with mental health and fitness, and access to on-site trained Mental Health First Aiders. Our approach and people practices around the identification of potential and rewards are fully growth-oriented, driving our employees to build skills for the future, chase ambitious goals and never settle.
Tamani Dias: Executive Director / Head of Corporate Coverage
You lead a significant bank business unit and continue to navigate your team through various challenges posed by the economic crisis. Please tell us how you balance work and home and how the bank has supported you.
Standard Chartered introduced flexible working arrangements during the pandemic, which were formalized into our employment contracts. This enabled employees to work a maximum of 2 days from a predefined location. The bank also provided all employees with a Wi-Fi router and a headset, creating an infrastructure for them to work from home comfortably. This has been a great benefit in managing work and home, both during the pandemic and the economic crisis.
Work-life balance is a conscious decision that an individual makes. The time spent on “work” or “life” depends on one’s priorities based on one’s stage in life and career. I now personally take time to ensure that I prioritize time with my husband, kids, and, importantly, myself, but in certain stages in my career, I focused more on work. It is essential to identify your priorities, define your unique balance, and find an organization, job role, and career path supporting them. I am lucky that Standard Chartered has been there for me on that journey.