Nanaska, one of Sri Lanka’s leading professional education institutes specialising in the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualification, has strengthened its governance structure with the appointment of two new Non-Executive Directors alongside a reconstituted executive leadership team.
Mr. Arj Wignaraja and Mr. Niranjan Wijesekera have joined the Board as Non-Executive Directors, bringing extensive experience in strategy, consulting, and large-scale corporate leadership.
Mr. Wignaraja brings strong international and strategic expertise, having worked with the Boston Consulting Group in the United States and later serving as Managing Director of Stax Consulting in Sri Lanka. His background in strategy advisory, transformation, and leadership development is expected to add significant value to Nanaska’s long-term growth and governance.
Mr. Wijesekera brings more than two decades of C-level leadership experience at MAS Holdings, one of Sri Lanka’s leading multinational organisations. During his tenure, he served as CEO of Prym Intimates, Stretchline and MAS Brands. His deep understanding of governance, operational leadership, and corporate growth will further strengthen the Board.
The Executive Management Team of Nanaska comprises the Executive Directors and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who together provide strategic leadership, academic direction, and operational oversight to drive the institute’s growth and long-term sustainability.
Mr. Channa Gunawardana, Founder and Lead Case Study Lecturer of Nanaska, who brings extensive corporate leadership experience alongside his academic expertise. In addition to his role at Nanaska, he serves as Executive Director / CEO of Dankotuwa Porcelain PLC and Chairman of Litro Gas Lanka Limited, contributing strong strategic, governance, and business leadership capabilities to the institute.
Mrs. Wathsala Atthanayake, a successful female entrepreneur and the Founder of Panthera, a fast-growing ladies’ wear brand with three retail outlets in Colombo and a strong online presence. Her entrepreneurial insight, brand-building expertise, and customer-centric approach add significant value to Nanaska’s strategic and commercial direction.
Mr. Akalanka Ranasinghe, who has been the driving energy behind both Nanaska and Panthera since inception. Having been involved with both entities from day one, he has been a key pillar of strength to the Board, contributing deep operational knowledge, execution capability, and unwavering commitment to building and scaling both brands.
In addition, Mr. Ali Raheem operates as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nanaska. Ali has been closely involved in Nanaska’s journey and brings strong operational leadership and execution capability to lead the institute into its next phase of growth, both locally and internationally.
Together, the Board and Executive team will focus on strengthening Nanaska’s position as a leading CIMA learning partner, while expanding its digital and international footprint. As part of this strategy, the institute has also introduced Nanaska Edge, its proprietary AI-based learning platform designed to enhance the CIMA Case Study learning experience through interactive learning, personalised support, and instant feedback.
These appointments reflect Nanaska’s continued commitment to strong governance, professional management, and long-term value creation for students, partners, and the wider professional community.
L to R: Akalanka Ranasinghe, Channa Gunawardana, Arj Wignaraja, Ali Raheem, Wathsala Atthanayake, and Niranjan Wijesekera.
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