Financial Times

Browns group, HNB chief dead

Chrisantha R. Cooray, Chairman of Brown's Group of Companies and Chairman, Hatton National Bank, died on Thursday of a heart attack.

Cooray was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, London. He was also a Member of the British Institute of Management and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, UK. When he received his Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants in 1974, he was the youngest Sri Lankan to be appointed a Fellow.

He was educated at St. Joseph's College, Colombo 10. After completing his GCE O/L, he joined Aquinas University College to do the London A/L. Thereafter, he proceeded to UK in 1965 to pursue his studies in accountancy.
Prior to joining Brown's Group of Companies, he underwent training in leading companies in the UK, Chlorides Group of Companies and Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Ltd, the world's largest manufacturers of automotive batteries and cement respectively. He returned to Sri Lanka in 1968.

In 1968, Cooray joined Brown's Group of Companies where his father, Edmund J. Cooray was Chairman. He was later appointed Group Secretary. He was appointed a Director in 1979 and functioned as Managing Director in addition to his duties as Group Secretary. He was appointed Chairman of Brown's Group of Companies and Hatton National Bank in 1989. His brother, the late Lester was the former chairman.

As the group Chairman, Chrisantha Cooray contributed significantly towards giving leadership and direction in steering Hatton National Bank during the past 15 years to becoming Sri Lanka's largest private sector financial services group.

A tall, distinguished personality, always impeccably groomed, he carried himself with confidence and dignity expected of his position. Cooray was always updated on current affairs and had the ability of switching between a wide range of topics seamlessly and with great ease. Gentle and cool-headed, he always encouraged discussion and differing points of view among colleagues, while being able to effectively chair and manage meetings. At both HNB and HNB Assurance Ltd, he played a vital role as the Non-Executive Chairman, clearly defining his responsibilities from that of the Chief Executive Officer and contributing significantly towards developing an effective corporate governance culture.

As Chairman Hatton National Bank, perhaps his greatest achievement was the construction of the new HNB Tower.

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