Veteran business leader Ajit Jayaratne no more

Ajit Jayaratne, a prominent figure in Sri Lanka’s business community and Chairman of Overseas Realty (Ceylon) PLC, passed away at the age of 85, leaving a significant legacy in property development and corporate governance.

Jayaratne, who joined Overseas Realty’s board in 2005 as an Independent Non-Executive director before becoming Chairman, was widely respected for his leadership of one of the country’s leading property investment and management firms listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE).

A graduate in Economics from the University of Southampton, UK, Jayaratne was a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the UK and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka. He spent much of his career at Forbes & Walker Limited, rising to Chairman and serving on multiple boards across public and private sectors.

His notable roles included chairing the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), the Finance Commission, and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC). After retiring from the private sector, he served as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Singapore and remained an influential voice in business through directorships in several listed companies.