Adheesha Perera Email & Phone Number

Canada

Colombo 03

Colombo

Sri Lanka Banks' Association's Sustainable Banking Initiative (SLBA-SBI) is a voluntary sector-led initiative under the aegis of Sri Lanka Banks’ Association, which aims to enhance the sustainability performance in Sri Lanka’s banking sector including on lending, operations and governance. An 8-member Core Group has been set up to coordinate implementation of this national initiative of which I am an active member. For more on the initiative: https://www.sustainablebanking.lk/Key Contributions:Represented Sustainable Banking Initiative in consultations on Sri Lanka's Sustainable Finance Roadmap by CBSL and IFC SBN and made salient proposals relating to development of sustainable finance in Sri Lanka (in 2018 and 2019)Presented to the CEOs of Sri Lanka Banks' Association's member banks (33 banks) in February 2019 to elicit support for the initiative's forward momentum and also presented to Heads of HR (August 2019) and IT (June 2019) to get their support in rolling our capacity building resources such as e-Learning platform across all banks in Sri Lanka.Led the Working Group that developed local case studies on Environmental and Social Risk Management and Sustainable Finance OpportunitiesRepresented banking sector and called for greater collaboration on sustainable finance during consultations by the Chinese government backed Special Policy Study Group delegation on Greening the Belt and Road Initiative.

Leading the Climate Finance Subcommittee from September 2024

Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka

Colombo District, Western, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has declared a Roadmap for Sustainable Finance in April 2019 under the aegis of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. A committee comprising of regulators and representatives from the financial sector has been constituted in August 2020 to support the implementation of the action plan identified within this national sustainable finance roadmap. I have been appointed to represent the banking sector in this committee. The Committee, which was initially named as Inter-Regulatory Committee to Support Roadmap for Sustainable Finance in Sri Lanka from September 2020 to September 2022, was renamed as the Stakeholder Committee on the Implementation of the Roadmap for Sustainable Finance in Sri Lanka and my term was further extended from 13th September 2022.Key ContributionsLed engagements with colleagues from SLBA SBI and presented recommendations for a Sustainable Finance Taxonomy for Sri Lanka on 23rd September 2020.

Colombo 06

Colombo 06

As the first dedicated personnel on sustainability at SDB Bank, I'm to roll out the sustainable banking best practice within the bank as per the SLBA Sustainable Banking Initiative. My immediate, primary role is to develop and deploy the Environmental and Social Risk Management System (ESMS) at the bank and also ensure the adherence of the bank to Client Protection Principles.

Union Place

I was appointed as the first dedicated Sustainability and CSR professional of the bank and was tasked in:Developing, recommending, implementing and monitoring organizational sustainability and community investment strategies.Working across the company and with consultants to calculate Bank's carbon footprint and implementing carbon management planWorking across functions to develop products to promote sustainable consumption and production in promoting sustainable design and lifestyles.Attending to sustainability reporting and communications relating to sustainability and community investment projects. (Compiled the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards application for Nations Trust Bank in 2017, where it was recognized with the accolade "Category Award on Governance")

Vauxhall Street, Colombo 02

Having joined as a Corporate Trainee for Group Business Development Division, I progressed to specialize in Corporate Sustainability, while also supporting Business Development and Corporate Communications activities:Key Achievements:Sustainability Reporting: Compiled the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards sections on Environment (from 2012 - 2016) and Community Relations (from 2012 - 2014). Aitken Spence was awarded Winner of the Overall Awards in 2012 and was recognized with sector and category awards from 2012 - 2016 for Environmental Performance.Emergency Management: Was the main coordinator for Aitken Spence Towers Fire Drill in July 2016 involving over 1,000 personnel from multiple companies - first time a drill was conducted in that scale (involving both Towers).Waste Management: Conducted a review of waste management for Aitken Spence Towers including service provider audits and introduced e-waste management measures including for CFLs and batteries. An employee e-waste collection drive was organized in June 2014 in partnership with Asia Recycling, Green Link Lanka and Arpico Biogas and Compost solutions.Sustainability Training (EMS Internal Auditor Training) and Compliance Review CSR Program: Coordination of ESLF - English and IT education community outreach program (2015)Corporate Communications: Developed Aitken Spence's wikipedia page and Aitken Spence Agriculture facebook page.Employee Engagement: As the General Secretary of Aitken Spence Sports Club coordinated employee engagement activities during 2012 and 2013, including Company's first talent show.Business Development: Took over Aitken Spence's venture into Agriculture from the feasibility stage to the point where the project made a revenue of Rs.1mn. Acted as the Project Manager from the Center for the set up of Aitken Spence Agriculture - Pelwehera Farm (2015 - 2016), carrying out functions relating to human resources, finance, marketing and operations management.

United Nations Headquarters, New York

Representing Sri Lanka at the 65th Session of United Nations General Assembly in the work of Second Committee (Economic and Financial Committee) and reporting to diplomatic corp on developments.Attending sideline dialogues and meetings of World Bank and others relating to ECOSOC and contributing to policy discussions.Campaigning and canvassing for appointment of Sri Lankan officials for UN agencies.

Officiating (refereeing) in soccer, volleyball, basketball and flag football. I was recognized as the Intramural Official of the Year.

Bmich, Colombo 07

As the Project Assistant - Communications and Research for Sri Lanka Youth Parliament Project (SLYP) of BCIS Youth Empowerment Division, I played a key role in executing all communication aspects of SLYP. SLYP was a youth run, youth led project hosted by the Bandaranaike Center for International Studies. SLYP emulated the Sri Lankan parliament but was different in many ways with regards to its collective action. Young action partners were selected based on action plans that they hoped to carry out to further improvements in issues/fields such as Education, health, HIV/AIDS, Environment, Employment, etc.My job included the coordination of action plans of 225 young community leaders, internal communication within SLYP secretariat, branding of SLYP, media liaison, compiling, publishing and distributing monthly newsletters (in 3 languages: English, Sinhala and Tamil) among all stakeholders (about 500 individuals, NGOs and other Interest Parties). I was also involved in the Young Community Leader project (National Awards Program to recognize the work of young community leaders with exemplary contribution to society), that was at its inception in the Youth Empowerment Division. For both these projects, I liaised with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Youth Affairs and the media to popularize the projects among the youth in order to attract prospective applicants.

Master Of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

(Affiliated to University of Sri Jayewardenepura)

Bachelor Of Arts, In Economics And Business Administration (International Business Concentration)

Activities and Societies: Senator-At-Large - UWS Student Senate (2009/2010), UWS Student Ambassador (2009/2010), Resident Assistant - 1st.

Higher Diploma, International Relations

Advanced Diploma In Management Accounting

Diploma, Journalism

Diploma, Entrepreneurial Business Management

Council Of Europe'S B2 Level Diploma, French Language

Diploma, Conflict Resolution

Collaborative Program with University for Peace (UPEACE)