SANASA Life Insurance Company PLC has appointed Mr. Susantha De Silva as its new Chief Executive Officer, bringing more than 30 years of experience across Sri Lanka’s insurance sector to lead the Company into its next phase of growth, customer-focused innovation and market development.
Mr. De Silva officially assumed duties on 8 October 2026 at a ceremony held at the SANASA Life Head Office in Colombo. The occasion commenced with religious observances and was attended by Dr. P. A. Kiriwandeniya, Founder of the SANASA Movement, the Chairman and Board of Directors, and the Corporate Management of SANASA Life Insurance.
The appointment marks an important leadership transition for SANASA Life, with Mr. De Silva bringing extensive experience across sales, business development, operations and executive management, complemented by the continued contribution of outgoing CEO Mr. Nuwanpriya Gunawardena in his new role as Chief Information Officer.
Speaking on his appointment, Mr. Susantha De Silva, Chief Executive Officer of SANASA Life Insurance, said:
“I am honoured to take on the responsibility of leading SANASA Life at an important stage of its journey. The Company has a strong heritage, a valuable connection with communities and a clear purpose in protecting the lives and aspirations of Sri Lankan families. My focus will be on building on these strengths, strengthening our customer relationships, empowering our people and driving sustainable business growth. Together with our team, I look forward to taking SANASA Life to greater heights while creating lasting value for our customers and all our stakeholders.”
An experienced insurance professional, Mr. De Silva began his career as an Insurance agent at Ceylinco General Insurance Ltd and progressively rose through the ranks to hold senior leadership positions at Eagle Insurance, Union Assurance PLC, Janashakthi Insurance PLC, Allianz Life Insurance Lanka Ltd and Coop Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Prior to his appointment, he served as a Consultant at Janashakthi Life.
Mr. De Silva holds an MBA in Marketing Management from Irish International University (UK), a CMI Level 7 Extended Diploma in Professional Consulting from CIPM (UK), an Advanced Diploma in Teaching Training and Assessment from City & Guilds, and a Diploma in Marketing from the Society of Sales and Marketing (UK).
Mr. Nuwanpriya Gunawardena, who took over the responsibilities of CEO during a particularly challenging period in SANASA Life’s journey, will now return to his original area of expertise as Chief Information Officer (CIO). In this role, he will focus on strengthening the Company’s information technology, digital capabilities and technology-led transformation.
The leadership transition combines deep insurance-sector expertise with technology and digital capabilities, supporting SANASA Life’s continued evolution and its commitment to strengthening customer experience, operational excellence and sustainable growth.
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