Mastercard has announced a series of strategic leadership appointments designed to strengthen its presence across South Asia and accelerate growth in five key markets: Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.
The new leadership structure reflects Mastercard’s commitment to creating a more integrated regional operating model that can better leverage the growing synergies among these markets, particularly in tourism, cross-border trade, digital payments, and financial innovation.
Effective immediately, Sandun Hapugoda has been appointed Group Country Manager for Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. In his expanded role, he will oversee Mastercard’s business operations and stakeholder engagement across the five markets, focusing on deepening strategic partnerships, enhancing payment innovation, and supporting digital transformation initiatives.
Hapugoda has played a pivotal role in driving Mastercard’s growth in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, helping strengthen the company’s position as a trusted technology and payments partner. He brings extensive expertise in digital banking, fintech, blockchain, open banking, and payments innovation. Beyond the private sector, he has also contributed to national policy development through his involvement with committees of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Technology, and the National Science Foundation. He currently serves as President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka.
In a related appointment, Mahesha Amarasuriya has been promoted to Country Manager for Sri Lanka and will report directly to Hapugoda. Having served Mastercard for four years as Director for Sri Lanka, she has been instrumental in advancing digital payments and financial inclusion initiatives across the country.
With more than 23 years of experience spanning corporate banking, retail banking, private banking, cards, and electronic payments, Amarasuriya brings significant industry expertise to her new position.
Commenting on the appointments, Gautam Aggarwal, Division President for South Asia, said the integrated leadership model would enable Mastercard to unlock new opportunities across tourism, trade, and digital payments while strengthening partnerships and accelerating digitalisation across the region.
