Committee Members

Sajeira Abeysekera - PRESIDENT

Having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Sajeira worked for seven years as a Research Assistant at the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes in Denver, Colorado where she authored and co-authored research abstracts. She then went onto pursue Law School in San Diego, and attained her bar admission in Colorado (2011).

 

Upon returning to Sri Lanka, and with a passion for education and health, Sajeira worked as a Business Development Consultant at SLINTEC and as legal specialist for Acquisitions Assistance at Medigain, LLC., a BPO specializing in revenue cycle management based in US & Sri Lanka.

 

Having obtained an understanding of local businesses, she founded Prep Academy, Sri Lanka (2014) and became a certified partner and service provider for Kaplan, Inc., USA to provide preparatory courses for exams such as SAT, GMAT and GRE. She also served as the legal director for Encare since its inception in 2014.

 

Sajeira is currently a working director at The Heart Aid Centre


Dinesh Mendis - Immediate Past President

Mr. Dinesh Mendis is a Director of Aitken Spence Group Ltd, Managing Director of MMBL Money Transfer (Pvt) Ltd and Aitken Spence Elevators (Pvt) Ltd. He is also Director/Sector Head of Aitken Spence Logistics. He served as a Director on the board of The American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka and is the immediate Past President of the American Alumni Association of Sri Lanka. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (Magna Cum Laude) in Business Administration specializing in Marketing and Economics from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, USA. He also obtained a Masters’ Degree in Business Administration from The University of Texas, USA.


Chamira Wijetilleke - President Elect

CEO of Somerville Stockbrokers (Pvt) Ltd, one of the founder members of the Colombo Stock Exchange. He graduated from the University of Houston with a BSc in Finance and holds a MBA from University of Western Sydney. He is a founder director of Roadster Studios (Pvt) Limited, the holding company of a City Boutique hotel and short term accommodation channels. He is also a director of Fintravels (Pvt) Limited, one of the oldest, IATA Licensed travel companies in the country.


Hiran Molligoda - Vice President

Hiran is an Alumni of both California State University Stanislaus and California State University in San Francisco and has a colourful career working in both United States and Sri Lanka; Pin Point Marketing New York City, Sampath Bank PLC, ISTI Washington DC, Central Finance Venture Capital Co; John Springfield (Pvt) LTD.

 

He currently serves as the Board Secretary of S. Thomas’ Colleges Board of Governors (4 Schools: Colpety, Mt.Lavinia, Gurutalawa & Bandarawela) and Board Secretary of The National Council for Child & Youth Welfare of Sri Lanka. Both of these Boards are “Act of Parliament”. Hiran is a long standing member of the American Alumni Association and was the Honorary Secretary from 2018 to 2022.


Charitha Abeyratne - Hon. Secretary

Charitha is the Founder & CEO of Saraii Village and Co-Founder of Saaraketha Organics; both triple bottom aligned social businesses that focuses on sustainability. She’s a Fulbright Scholar and a Presidential Scholar, with an MBA in Global Social Sustainable Enterprise from Colorado State University, USA.

 

Her business in Sustainable tourism has been accredited by the UNDP and ITC, Geneva; and she has been awarded multiple accolades for the work she has done in Sustainability, Organic Agriculture, Responsible Tourism and Women Empowerment.

 

Charitha was selected as a “Winning Woman of Asia Pacific – 2020” by E&Y Global and has been awarded as the “Young Entrepreneur of the Year – 2015”, “Zonta Woman Achiever – 2017” and “Innovation in Tourism – 2018”.


Chinthaka Abeysekera - Hon. Treasurer

Having graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, USA, he is the Chief Executive Officer of Sisili Projects Consortium Pvt. Ltd., a diversified group of companies in healthcare, waste management, manufacturing and hospitality services.

 

His passion lies in sustainability – where Sri Lankan grown solutions can help create circular economies in South Asia to minimize pollution, maximize resource recovery and utilization of these materials back into manufacturing processes.


Ayoma Fernando - Special Events

Ayoma Sonia Fernando is the Director /Principal at Kids Academy Pvt Ltd and Director of ABC group of schools which recently celebrated 30 years of Early childhood education. She graduated in 1982 from Wilson College, Pennsylvania obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with a minor in business management. Ayoma was a recipient of the Merryl Harlow Cheng memorial prize given to an outstanding international student of the graduating class.

 

She has been a member of Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan for the past 15 years and held positions of Director New Generation, Director Club services.  Ayoma is also a trustee of an NGO Sudhaar Foundation where Women and youth in the Wanathamulla area are empowered through an income generation program and an English education program. For the past 8 years she has been volunteering her services and teaching English to the kids in the area.

 

Ayoma follows Kundalini yoga online, loves music, singing and can play the eastern and western drums too.


Sherryn Yaseen - International Services

Sherryn Yaseen is the Founder CEO of, American College of Higher Education. She’s a graduate of Ohio University USA. Sherryn has received multiple awards for her business in education and as a woman entrepreneur.

Outstanding Leadership in Education 2022, Awarded by Education 2.0 in Dubai, Business Excellence Award 2021 – BWIO, Business Woman of the Year 2021 – BWIO, Best American Education Provider – 2019 – AAA are some of the recent accolades received by her. Sherryn is passionate about improving the education system in Sri Lanka and likes to support people who do their best to uplift peoples’ lives. Sherryn was also a Past President of the American Alumni Association.


Jit Seneviratne - Corporate Outreach

Jit holds a M.S. in Computer Engineering, from Clemson University, South Carolina, a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, from University of Texas at Austin, USA.

Satyajit (Jit) Seneviratne is the Senior Vice President – Business Development at IronOne Technologies, extending the global reach of the complete stockbroker solution, Atrad.

Jit retired as the Head of Business Development at Millennium Information Technologies, now fully owned by London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG).  An initial shareholder of MillenniumIT and a member of the strategic management team since 1999, his responsibilities included sales in emerging and frontier markets and also enhancing the company’s global position and awareness as a leading provider of capital markets automation products.

Before joining Millennium Information Technologies, Jit was employed by Apple Inc., as an Engineering Project Manager, based at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California during its resurgent era under visionary and founder, Steve Jobs. Jit began his career at the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC, USA, where he was a programmer/analyst at House Information Systems on Capitol Hill. Jit was also a Past President of the American Alumni Association.


Shanelle De Almeida - Membership

Shanelle De Almeida is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Group Wellness Manager of Hemas Holdings.

She is Cognitive Behavioral Therapist with a specialty in Marriage family therapy, trained in the US. Shenelle is also the founder of the themindmanager.lk, which is an informative blog that takes a deep dive into mental health topics in a unique and simplistic style.

She has a BSc from Linfield College, USA and has won multiple awards including Health and Productivity award for best company 2019, Best Innovation Award at Hemas Corp 2017, Nable Super Star Award  in 2016. Shanelle is passionate about all things wellness related and advocates for positive change in life, work and love.


Blessie Keegel - Social Media

Blessie has a Bachelor of Arts in Media Management in Radio/TV / Film from Biola University, Los Angeles, CA – USA and a Masters of Business Administration from Edith Cowan University, Perth-Australia. Blessie has worked in the music industry in A&R for Total Experience Records Universal in Los Angeles for 4 years post graduation and then later moved back to Sri Lanka and worked in the media as a Prime-Time Radio Host at leading radio stations in Colombo for 14 years.

She currently serves as Founder for Women in Media Sri Lanka and is working in Marketing as a Brand Entrepreneur at Twinery by MAS Innovations Pvt Ltd.


Vrai Raymond - EX.CO. Development

Vrai Raymond, General Manager & Head of Chamber at the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka, is a Transformational Leader & Strategic Communications Specialist, counting over 25 years’ experience in Corporate Communications, Event Management, Media and Compliance.

A past pupil of Bishops’ College, Colombo, she is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketers UK, an Associate of the Chartered Management Institute UK, and holds a Masters’ in Strategic Marketing, as well as Diplomas’ in International Relations and International Human Rights.

She was recently appointed Vice Chair of the AmChams of Asia Pacific (AAP), and Co-chairs its Budget Committee, whilst serving on its Constitutional Committee.

A dynamic and versatile individual, she is an awarded amateur Chef, entrepreneur and enabler, and was awarded the Upcoming Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 by Women In Management for her successful establishment of a social enterprise model focused on providing sustainable income for women-led single income families in Sri Lanka.

She is a single mother to 3 teenagers and two dogs and is passionate about social equity and transitional justice, and in her spare time she enjoys an eclectic collection of music and books, and is a published creative writer on myriad topics.


Kosala Wickramanayake - Media, Print & Electronic

Kosala Wickramanayake currently serves as the President of the International Business Council in Sri Lanka. He was also the Past President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka (FCCISL) and Past Vice President of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Kosala also holds several key positions in commercial organizations including CEO of Kosala Enterprises Ltd; and Director of Sterling Jersey Ltd. Previously, he served as Director Airport and Aviation Authority Services Ltd., Sri Lanka, Lankaputhra Development Bank, SME Bank, and Sri Lanka Tourist Board. He was President of the Sri Lanka Chamber of Small Industry, and is also a past president of the American Alumni Association.

Working with federal agencies and commercial organizations, he has served as a catalyst to encourage SMEs development.

Kosala is a graduate in Economics and Business Management from Rockford University Rockford Illinois USA


Saroj Perera - College of Past Presidents

Saroj, studied at the University of the District of Columbia, USA, is a Sri Lankan entrepreneur and the Chairman and Managing Director of DSL Group of Companies. DSL is one of the leading private sector companies in Sri Lanka; an importer and distributor of world-renowned tyres, batteries and automotive aftermarket products. Douglas & Sons (Pvt) Ltd, popularly known as DSL among the trade partners and customers, started its commercial operations in July 1986. Douglas & Sons (Pvt) Ltd is the founder member of the DSL Group of Companies.

DSL is also a leading manufacturer and exporter of soft toys with two factories located in the Biyagama Export Processing zone and in Kosgoda, Galle. The toys are branded under the names “Tikiri”, “Meiya & Alvin” and dolls under “Bonikka” and are sold in 56 countries around the world with a strong presence in the US market. DSL offer both organic and conventional soft toys and are, to-date, the only Sri Lankan company engaged in the manufacture of organic soft toys.

We were recently awarded the GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) accreditation and are the first ever natural rubber toy company to achieve this feat. Tikiri Toys won the Spring 2021 Tillywig Award as one of the best children’s products


Chethika Hapugalle - Fellowship

Chethika has an MA in International Studies and  BA in History and Political Science. A long standing member of the American Alumni Association, she is also the Country Manager for Double A paper in Sri Lanka. She’s an active member of the SL Rotary Club of Colombo West, SAARC Ladies Association.

Chethika is passionate about politics, loves wildlife, traveling and reading tarot cards.


Gulam Hussein Fazleabas - AAA Foundation Trust

Hussein Fazleabas is Chairman & MD of Perigon Lanka private Ltd – a construction Project & Cost Management and Engineering Consultancy since 1999. Projects managed by Perigon Lanka in Sri Lanka and The Maldives have received numerous accolades for construction excellence and been featured in many international architectural publications. An old boy of Royal College, Hussein graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (UL-Lafayette) in 1984 and an MS in Civil Engineering from UNC Charlotte, in 1993. Hussein is a past president of AAASL and a past President of the Rotary Club of Colombo Mid Town. He is married to Munira and they have 3 children, all of whom are also American Alumni.


Nadira Willam - Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Primary education was at St Bridgets Convent Colombo and thereafter attended Clarion University of Pennsylvania before obtaining a Bachelors in Finance and Marketing from the University of California Los Angeles. On return to Sri Lanka Nadira became a shareholder cum Director Sales and Marketing at Alumex Group of companies before its sale to the Hayleys Group. Presently she is the Director of True Digital Printing (pvt ) Ltd and owner of retail sports brand “True”.

Nadira Volunteer’s at Lanka Alzheimer’s foundation Since 2016. She is a passionate mother and traveler with a keen interest in global music concerts and a bequeathed interest in international rugby union.


Janaka Edirisinghe - VICE PATRON

Founder & Vice Patron of America Alumni Association of SriLanka