According to global studies, a gender-balanced workplace can create efficiency, enhance employee engagement, boost productivity, meet the diverse needs of customers and suppliers, and improve brand reputation. As a result, business leaders are compelled to assess and address gender gaps that exist in their organization in order to gain a competitive edge in the market.
The EDGE (Economical Dividends for Gender Equality) Gender Certification is the leading global assessment methodology and business certification standard for gender equality in workplaces. Based on a methodology of innovative evaluation, the certification conducts a comprehensive review of data policies and practices, and analysis of an organization-wide survey of staff experiences and perceptions of gender equality in the workplace prior to awarding the accreditation. The EDGE Gender Certification has been designed to help organizations not only create an optimal workplace for all, but also to benefit from it.
EDGE Gender Certification currently works with over 200 organizations in 50 countries and 23 industries. Examples of leading organizations that are EDGE certified include Accenture, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Deutsche Bank, Ernst & Young, IKEA, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Marriot, Mercer, Pfizer, SAP and the World Bank.
Recognising that upholding gender equality is vital for hiring and retaining employees, a leading local bank NDB recently became the first Sri Lankan company to apply for the EDGE Gender Certification, demonstrating their commitment to gender equality. Following in-depth interviews with NDB’s HR professionals, the corporation has developed a set of follow-up actions that will continue to promote gender parity among NDB’s workforce.
NDB also joins a select group of leading employers in Sri Lanka who are a part of the IFC-led SheWorks Partnership foster action and learning programme around a variety of employer-supported strategies, approaches and policies to boost women’s private sector participation in the country. The SheWorks Sri Lanka initiative aims to demonstrate that corporate performance can improve by closing gaps between women and men in the workplace. On the occasion of International Women’s Day falling on 8 March, NDB reaffirms its commitment to support the creation of more and better jobs for women, including in leadership, which will further drive economic growth in Sri Lanka.
MANIQUE KIRIELLA BANDARA
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, COMPLIANCE OFFICER
Manique joined the Bank as a management trainee and has had a career with NDB that has spanned more than 21 years. Prior to being appointed as the Compliance Officer of the Bank, she was a senior member of the Bank’s internal legal team where she provided legal counsel and support in the areas of lending, investment banking, structuring transactions, fund raising, labour related investigations, advisory on banking regulation and foreign exchange related matters. She was actively involved in developing the corporate governance framework in place at the Bank. She was appointed as the Compliance Officer of the Bank in January 2014 and is responsible for managing Regulatory Compliance Risks and the Bank’s Anti Money Laundering Program.
ISHANI SENAWEERA
VICE PRESIDENT, ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT
Ishani Senaweera counts for more than 24 years’ experience at the Bank having joined in 1995 as a management trainee. She has held a position in the Leadership Team of the Bank since 2007, and has gained experience in Corporate Banking, Human Resources and currently gives leadership to the Organization Change Management division of the Bank. She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Wales and B.Sc. in Economics and Management from the University of London
NIRMALA RAYEN
VICE PRESIDENT, GROUP RISK MANAGEMENT
An Associate Member of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka, Nirmala Rayen counts over 36 years of banking experience. Prior to joining NDB, she worked at ABN AMRO Bank N.V., ABN Bank N.V. and Citibank N.A. She was the Past President of the Association of Banking Sector Risk Professionals in Sri Lanka.
SHANTI GNANAPRAGASAM
VICE PRESIDENT, SHARED SERVICES
Prior to this appointment, Shanti Gnanapragasam held the corporate management positions of Chief Risk Officer and Head of Treasury at the Hatton National Bank PLC. In a career spanning over 36 years in the banking and finance industry, she has served as the Group Treasurer of Hayleys PLC, Deputy Head of Treasury at People’s Bank PLC and the Head of Global Market at American Express. She is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (FCMA) and the Chartered Global Management Accountants (CGMA).
MELODY WICKRAMANAYAKE
VICE PRESIDENT, LEGAL
Melody Wickramanayake is an Attorney-at-Law (Hons) of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. She counts over 21 years of experience in corporate and banking law. She joined NDB in 1991, following which she had a brief stint in the Middle East over 2008-2010, and re-joined NDB upon returning to Sri Lanka. She was previously the company Secretary of NDB Bank Limited.
SHEHANI RANASINGHE
VICE PRESIDENT/COMPANY SECRETARY
Shehani Ranasinghe was appointed as the Company Secretary of the Bank in 2012. She was formerly attached to the Legal Department of the Bank where she gained experience in Corporate, Banking and Financial law, investment banking and Legal advisory services during her career spanning over 25 years with the Bank. She has also functioned as the Company Secretary of several subsidiary companies of the Bank prior to her appointment as the Company Secretary of the Bank. She is an Attorney – at – Law (Hons) of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, a Notary Public, Commissioner for Oaths, Qualified Company Secretary and earned her Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree from the University of Colombo.
RUWANI DE SILVA
VICE PRESIDENT, INTERNAL GROUP AUDIT
Ruwani De Silva is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK. She counts over 23 years of banking experience covering the areas of Audit, Compliance and Finance. Prior to joining NDB, she worked at ABN AMRO Bank N.V as the Head of Audit for six years and at M/S Ernst & Young Chartered Accountants for a period of 5 years.
SUVENDRINI MUTHUKUMARANA
ACTING GROUP CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT – FINANCE & PLANNING
Suvendrini has over 24 years of experience, including 18 years with NDB. Prior to joining NDB, she was employed at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the areas of Corporate Accounting and Financial Reporting, Auditing and Business Assurance. She holds an FCA (Sri Lanka) and is a member of the Integrated Corporate Reporting Committee of the ICASL.