CDC appoints Tilaka Kumara Wakista Acting CEO

Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC’s retail and property subsidiary Commercial Development Company PLC (CDC) has appointed Tilaka Kumara Wakista as Acting CEO with effect from 6 April 2026.

Tilaka Kumara Wakista is an engineering and operations professional with over 34 years of experience spanning banking, manufacturing, and industrial sectors. His career reflects a progression through technical and managerial roles, culminating in senior leadership within one of Sri Lanka’s largest private banks.

He most recently served as Department Head – Premises and Engineering at Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, a role he held from July 2021 to March 2025. In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing engineering functions, infrastructure management, and project execution aligned with the bank’s operational and sustainability objectives.

Wakista’s tenure at Commercial Bank spans nearly 28 years, during which he held a series of progressively senior positions. He served as Chief Manager, Senior Manager, Manager, and earlier as an Engineer in Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) functions. His responsibilities across these roles included project management, procurement, logistics, and facilities development, with a focus on execution and operational efficiency.

Prior to joining the bank in 1997, he worked as a Mechanical Engineer at Collettes Limited from 1994 to 1997, and as a Maintenance Engineer at International Distillers Lanka Limited from 1991 to 1994, gaining early experience in industrial engineering and plant operations.

Wakista holds a BSc (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Moratuwa and an MBA from the University of Colombo. He is an Associate Member of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, and a member of the MBA Alumni Association of the University of Colombo.

His professional development includes training in project management, facilities management, anti-money laundering awareness, sustainability practices such as carbon footprint calculation, and business continuity planning.

Beyond industry roles, Wakista has also contributed to academia and training. He has served as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Moratuwa and as Deputy Executive Director at the Sri Lanka Business Development Centre, where he conducted entrepreneurship training and consultancy programs.

Across his career, his work has centred on engineering management, infrastructure development, and operational execution within complex organisational environments.

Source - Dailyft