Deshini Abeyewardena is a Chartered and Management Accountant with extensive experience across Sri Lanka’s private and public sectors. She has held senior roles, including Senior Consultant at Delloite’s, Head of Quintiles Transnational (Sri Lanka), Director – Business Development at Hemas Holdings PLC, Manager – HSBC Premier, and Head of Public Relations at SriLankan Airlines. As Director of the Public Enterprises Reform Commission, she oversaw major sectoral reforms and privatizations, and served on the boards of several state enterprises. Deshini has also consulted for Micro Cars and SLINTEC. Currently, she serves as a non-executive director of a listed company. Her multidisciplinary expertise in finance, governance, and reform brings strategic insight and balanced leadership to EFL’s Board.

early career at Hayleys Group included leading strategic business development and international growth initiatives. Known for his expertise in international trade, development policy, and sustainable finance, Deshal contributes valuable strategic and analytical perspective to EFL’s Board, bridging environmental governance with broader economic reform and policy dialogue.

Dr. Eric Wikramanayake is a globally recognized landscape ecologist and conservation biologist with over 30 years of experience in species and habitat conservation across Asia. He has worked in Bhutan, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, and previously served as Director of Wildlife and Wetlands at WWF Hong Kong. A former scientific advisor at Seneca Impact Advisors, Eric has co-authored numerous landmark studies, including the Indo-Pacific Conservation Assessment and the 1997 range-wide tiger conservation analysis. He pioneered Asia’s first landscape-scale conservation initiative, the Terai Arc Landscape Program. A former Chairperson of EFL, he continues to guide its strategic direction. Eric holds a PhD in Ecology from the University of California, Davis, and has served as Visiting Scientist at the Smithsonian Institution.

Sanjiv Fernando is a wildlife scientist and conservationist specializing in human-wildlife coexistence, habitat protection, and conservation technology. He currently serves as the Nature Lift Initiative Lead at RESOLVE, advancing biodiversity conservation and contributing to global commitments toward a Nature Positive future. Sanjiv manages the Quick Response Fund for Nature, supporting local NGOs to safeguard endangered species and critical habitats. His research contributions include co-authorship of The Global Safety Net for Biodiversity and Climate and A Global Deal for Nature. He holds a BA in Environmental Science and an MS in Environmental Science & Policy from Clark University. A Director of EFL since 2023, Sanjiv combines field-based conservation experience with global scientific perspective, guiding EFL’s efforts to align Sri Lankan conservation with international best practice.

Manjulla Bahlendran is a seasoned finance leader with extensive experience across the apparel, aviation, and manufacturing sectors. She has held senior roles at global organizations including Victoria’s Secret, Qantas Group, and Brandix Lanka, where she led strategic financial transformation and cross-cultural teams. Manjulla’s expertise spans financial systems design, enterprise risk management, business continuity planning, and project-based operational improvement. Her leadership in implementing comprehensive management frameworks has enhanced organizational performance and resilience. With over two decades of experience in finance, operations, and risk management, she brings pragmatic insight and discipline to EFL.

Dathika Wikramanayake is an Attorney-at-Law and Partner at Heritage Partners, Attorneys-at-Law. Admitted to practice in both Sri Lanka and New York, he holds an LL.B. from University College London and an LL.M. from Columbia University, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Eric began his legal career as a State Counsel at the Attorney General’s Department before transitioning to private practice, where he specialized in corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and intellectual property. Since 2021, he has led Heritage Partners’ Private Equity and Venture Capital practice, advising both local and international clients. His legal acumen and commitment to governance strengthen EFL’s institutional integrity and capacity to engage effectively in environmental law and policy.

Deshal de Mel is an economist and corporate leader with experience across policy, banking, and industry. A graduate of the University of Oxford and the London School of Economics, he has served as Economic Advisor to Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Finance, Director at the Centre for Poverty Analysis, and Research Director at Verité Research. Deshal has also held independent directorships at Sampath Bank, Janashakthi Insurance PLC, and Capital Alliance Investments. Her guidance helps ensure that EFL’s financial governance aligns with its mission of transparency and sustainability.

Nigel Bartholomeusz is an Attorney-at-Law with over 30 years of practice, specializing in corporate, commercial, banking, insurance, telecommunications, and intellectual property law. Called to the Bar in 1994, he trained under President’s Counsel K. Kanag-Isvaran and the Attorney General’s Department before establishing his own chambers in 2008. Nigel represents clients before both appellate and original courts and serves as counsel in major domestic and international arbitration proceedings. He has advised on mergers, acquisitions, shareholder agreements, and investment structures. His board experience includes Union Bank PLC, St. Regis Packaging, and the Jinasena Group of Companies. Currently, he serves on the Boards of HNB Investment Bank, Associated Electrical Corporation and AEC Properties. His deep legal insight strengthens EFL’s governance and advocacy for environmental justice.

Dr. Chaturangi Wickramaratne is a freshwater ecologist and environmental researcher specializing in wetland conservation and sustainable resource management. She holds a PhD in Climate Change and Limnology from the University of Adelaide and a BSc in Resource and Environmental Management from the Australian National University. With nearly 15 years of experience, she leads wetland-focused projects at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and represents the institute at the Ramsar Convention. She also contributes to Sri Lanka’s National Wetland Steering Committee. A former Head of Science at EFL, she has served as a director since 2020. Her scientific expertise and leadership in regional collaborations strengthen EFL’s evidence-based advocacy and conservation initiatives.

Nalin Karunatileka is a sustainable finance specialist and independent consultant with over three decades of experience in development and investment banking. He retired from DFCC Bank in 2025 after a 31-year career, having served as Vice President – Sustainability & Consulting and as Head of DFCC Consulting (Pvt) Ltd. Nalin led the Bank’s Sustainability Strategy and Environmental & Social Management System (ESMS), and served as focal point for its Green Climate Fund initiatives. He now advises the Sustainable Banking Initiative of the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association and is a member of the Climate Action Steering Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. Holding degrees in Business Administration and Financial Economics, he brings deep expertise in green finance and sustainable investment to EFL’s Board.

Sachin Unamboowe is a corporate leader with experience across finance, investment banking and digital health. He is an Assistant Vice President/Head of Sales at Capital Alliance Holdings PLC, leading client relations, product development and strategic growth initiatives across the CAL group. Previously, he served as Head of Sales at oDoc Pvt Ltd, Sri Lanka’s first telemedicine venture. Prior to joining the corporate sector, he had a stint as a Naturalist at Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, where he guided foreign guests as well as international film crews on their assignments in Sri Lanka. A Phi Beta Kappa inductee and a Summa Cum Laude graduate, Sachin holds a BA in International Relations and the Global Economy, as well as a minor in Anthropology, from the University of Southern California.