Leadership Transition at SANASA Life Insurance

Following nearly five decades of growth and international project delivery, SANKEN GEN has officially been established as an independent international group. This strategic restructuring consolidates the organization’s overseas construction operations, real estate assets, and related ventures under a single holding company. As part of this transition, Sanken Overseas (Private) Limited has been rebranded as SANKEN GEN (PRIVATE) LIMITED, marking a major milestone in its corporate history.

The Group’s origins trace back to 1977, when it began operations as the Sri Lankan arm of Japan’s Mitsui Construction Company. By 2020, ownership and executive leadership had transitioned fully to Sri Lankan professionals. Over the past 50 years, the organization has built a formidable reputation across three continents, delivering landmark civil engineering, commercial development, and construction projects in key international markets, including the Maldives, Seychelles, India, Bangladesh, and Kenya.

At a recent launch event in Colombo, SANKEN GEN outlined its long-term vision while reflecting on its global achievements. Over the past five years alone, the company executed an impressive project portfolio valued at approximately USD 900 million across seven countries, serving as a vital driver of foreign exchange earnings for Sri Lanka. Today, SANKEN GEN maintains a robust footprint across 10 countries in Asia-Pacific, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean region, with diverse interests spanning construction, real estate, hospitality, and associated services.

To power its next chapter, SANKEN GEN has adopted a modern radial organizational structure. Under this framework, operating companies act as collaborative partners linked through a centralized hub of expertise, governance, and strategic oversight. The name itself honors this transition: “GEN” signifies the generations of people and principles behind the brand, while referencing the Japanese word gen (meaning “source” or “origin”), symbolizing a strong foundation for future expansion.

Leadership remains a guiding anchor during this pivotal shift. Chairman Eng. Maj. Ranjith Gunatilleke, a key figure throughout the Group’s history, emphasized that client trust and core principles will continue to underpin growth for the next 50 years. Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer Eng. Mevan Gunatilleke highlighted the importance of empowering talent, leveraging modern technology, and expanding beyond traditional construction into new sectors for long-term, sustainable growth.

Building on its legacy of trust and engineering excellence, SANKEN GEN enters its next era well-positioned to deepen cross-market collaboration and drive regional economic development.

The British Examination Centre (BEC), an independent examination and assessment administration body established under CEG Education Holdings, was officially launched at Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo recently.

The establishment of the centre marks a significant milestone in expanding access to internationally recognized qualifications, teacher development, and examination administration across Sri Lanka.

A key highlight of the launch was BEC’s official appointment as a Cambridge Associate, enabling the centre to support the administration of Cambridge International examinations islandwide. Designed to cater to schools, educational institutions, parents, and private candidates, BEC aims to deliver an efficient, accessible, and highly reliable examination experience, allowing partner schools to focus on core educational delivery.

Through this partnership, students in Sri Lanka will gain streamlined access to Cambridge Checkpoint assessments (Grades 5 and 8), Cambridge IGCSEs, and Cambridge International AS & A Levels—qualifications recognized by over 2,500 universities worldwide.

Beyond student assessments, BEC will place a strong emphasis on educator development by delivering Cambridge Professional Development Qualifications for Teachers in collaboration with international partners. These specialized initiatives are designed to strengthen classroom practices, elevate teacher capabilities, and better prepare students for academic success.

Commenting on the launch, Upali Witharana, Executive Director and CFO, noted that BEC intends to provide a seamless registration and post-results experience for candidates and parents while building a dependable platform for partner institutions. He added that the centre plans to progressively broaden its portfolio with additional international assessments in the near future.

Jonathan Hardy, Head of Business Development for Cambridge Assessment International, welcomed the partnership, stating that Cambridge is pleased to work alongside BEC to expand global academic opportunities for Sri Lankan learners.

Echoing these views, Dr. Punarjeeva Karunanayake, Executive Director of ANC Campus, emphasized that internationally benchmarked academic pathways remain increasingly vital for students seeking global higher education and career opportunities.

Guided by a commitment to high administrative standards and strong institutional partnerships, BEC aims to serve as a comprehensive educational hub for students, private candidates, and educators across the country.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has reinforced its position as Sri Lanka’s leading digital banking innovator by winning three prestigious awards at the Global Finance World’s Best Digital Bank & AI in Finance Awards 2026, held at Raffles Hotel, Singapore. The bank secured top honors for Best Consumer Digital Bank, Best Mobile Banking App, and Most Innovative Digital Bank. The event was attended by key leadership, including Chief Digital Officer Randil Boteju, Manager of the Digital Banking Unit (DBU) Ramendra Nonis, and Senior Engineering Manager for IT R&D Nadika Nagahawatte.

The recognition highlights Commercial Bank’s sustained investments in digital transformation, customer-centric technology, and advanced research spearheaded by its DBU and IT R&D teams. Winners were evaluated by Global Finance based on digital customer growth strategies, breadth of product offerings, tangible user benefits, website and app functionality, and design. Joseph Giarraputo, founder and editorial director of Global Finance, noted that the winning institutions are setting global benchmarks as banks increasingly integrate artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics to meet rising customer expectations for speed, personalization, security, and seamless service.

This international accolade places Sri Lanka’s digital banking ecosystem alongside world-class peers like DBS Bank, which was named World’s Best Digital Bank at the same ceremony. The awards affirm Commercial Bank’s commitment to delivering secure, efficient financial solutions aligned with international standards.

The achievement complements Commercial Bank’s extensive record of industry leadership. In 2026,