Mahesha Amarasuriya Director, Mastercard Sri Lanka

Driving Innovation : Mahesha Amarasuriya’s Leadership at the Crossroads of Banking and Technology

Words - Sachini Perera
Photos - Jagath Dharmakeerthi

In a fast-paced financial landscape, Mahesha Amarasuriya emerges as a trailblazing female leader, navigating the dynamic intersection of banking and technology with a visionary touch. As the Director at Mastercard Sri Lanka in International Markets, Mahesha stands as a beacon of innovation, skillfully steering through challenges and seizing opportunities at the nexus of traditional banking and cutting-edge technology. This article invites readers to delve into Mahesha Amarasuriya’s insights, exploring the challenges and triumphs of her leadership at the crossroads of banking and technology. Discover how her strategic vision has not only future-proofed financial institutions but has also positioned her as a distinguished thought leader in driving innovation within the ever-evolving world of finance and technology.

 Could you introduce yourself in brief?

I am an only child, and both my parents were employed full-time. Hence, I spent a lot of my childhood with my grandparents. I remember playing ‘school’ with my grandmother at a very early age, where she was the teacher, and my grandfather and I played the role of students. As an only child, my parents were quite protective of me but set an example of being a united, caring, loving family. They set the foundation for my personal and professional development. As most only children would, I, too, took up reading novels at a very early age. As a child, I was addicted to Secret Seven, Famous Five, Nancy Drew, and Hardy Boys. My interest in reading developed into an interest in writing, and I started composing poetry. I initially wrote small verses in Sinhala.
As I took up English Literature for my Ordinary Level and Advanced Level Examinations, I composed a fair number of English poems and published two books; ‘A Maiden Attempt’ and ‘Moments of Reflection.’ While enrolled at the Colombo University, I also started CIMA. This is where I met my husband, Rajeev Amarasuriya. I worked on a project he was heading: the CIMA Students Conference. We both continued our journey with the CIMA Students’ Society and served as Presidents of the Society in 2001 and 2004. We have been married for seventeen years and are blessed with one son. Rajeev is a practicing Attorney-at-Law and the former Secretary of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka. 
I am presently working as a Director at Mastercard Sri Lanka in International Markets. Before assuming this role, I was the Assistant General Manager of Card Services and a Member of the Corporate Management of Cargills Bank. I have 20 years of experience in Banking and Finance, including Corporate Banking, Retail and Private Banking, and Cards and Electronic Payments. 

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