ABA Advisory Council Member and concurrently ABA Board Member Mr. Jonathan Alles will be retiring from his position as Managing Director/CEO of Hatton National Bank (HNB) effective August 23, 2024, and hence will be relinquishing his seat in the ABA.

Mr. Alles served as ABA Chairman from 2028 to 2021, and later as Chairman of the ABA Advisory Council from 2021 to 2023.

In his letter to the ABA Board and ABA Members announcing his retirement, Mr. Alles thanked them and the ABA Secretariat for “the kind support and cooperation extended to me during my tenure as ABA Chairman from 2018 to 2021, as Chairman of the ABA Advisory Council from 2021 to 2023, and as a Board Member over the years.”

He added: “It has certainly been a great and distinct honor and privilege for me to work with ABA and look forward to maintaining our relationship in the years to come…”

In his response to Mr. Alles, ABA Chairman Mr. Morris Li from CTBC Bank Ltd expressed his appreciation to Mr. Alles “for your exemplary contribution to the further growth and development of the ABA during your long period of association with the ABA.”

Mr. Li further stated: “I most welcome your offer to maintain relationship with the ABA and its members. The Association certainly needs someone with your experience and wisdom to help us in our efforts to promote the interest of our members and the banking community of the region as a whole. I therefore hope that you will remain as member of the ABA Advisory Council, so we can continue to benefit from your valuable guidance.”

Mr. Damith Pallewatte will take over as acting CEO of HNB effective April 8, and will officially take over the position upon the retirement of Mr Alles in August. He will also assume a seat in the ABA Board as HNB’s representative in place of Mr. Alles.

Mr. Pallewatte, who is currently serving as the Deputy General Manager of Wholesale Banking Group of HNB, has over 27 years of experience in the sector of which over 14 years in senior/ corporate management.