Our Team

Aelian Gunawardene - Managing Director

Aelian Gunawardene is the founder and Managing Director of JAT Holdings PLC and has been the driving force of the company ever since. As a Marketing professional he has pioneered new innovations while increasing JAT’s presence both locally and internationally and has built unequivocal brand equity. He has successfully led JAT to the recognition of being the only private company in Sri Lanka to be awarded a Moody’s ICRA rating of ‘A+ (Stable)’ outlook for five consecutive years. Gunawardene is one of Sri Lanka’s most respected corporate leaders, contributing more than 27 years of leadership experience and strategic expertise to the Board. In the year 2017, he was awarded the honour of Sri Lanka’s Entrepreneur of the Year and was also recognised among LMD’s ‘Top 23 Business people of the Year.’ In addition, he has been on the LMD’s A List for five consecutive years commencing in 2018; a list that features the top leaders of the business world in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Sanjay Perera

Holds a PHD in pharmaceutical and Healthcare Management. He is a resource person for John Hopkins University and project investigator institute for health policy. Member high level committee to address road safety challenges appointed by the presidential Secretariat. Expert committee member Sri Lanka medical association and a former Chairman Geological Survey and Mines Bureau.

Prof. N.P. Ratnayake - Senior Consultant Chartered Geologist

With over 28 years of experience in Sri Lanka, Japan, Maldives, Oman, and Somalia with expertise in mineral exploration, Ore resource modelling, Geochemistry and Marine Mineral Resources. He is the Senior Professor and former Vice Chancellor of Ocean University of Sri Lanka. He was the Former President of the Geological Society of Sri Lanka.

Exploration Projects:

Sri Lanka: Mineral Sand, Nickel and Cobalt, Rare Earth Elements, Limestone and Marble/dolomite, Quartz, Feldspar, Mica and Sea Sand.
International: Iron Ore Project Evaluation (Mozambique), Gold (Somalia) and Construction Aggregate and Dimension Stone (Oman).

Eng. P.V.A. Hemalal - Senior Consultant Chartered Engineer

Over 42 years of experience in Sri Lanka, Oman and Ukraine. Specialising in Mine Planning and Design, Industrial Rock Blasting, Opencast and Underground Mining. He served as a Senior Academic at the University of Moratuwa. His current professional affiliations are the Fellow of the Institute of Metals, Minerals and Mining (FIMMM-UK), Member of the Institution of Engineers-Sri Lanka (MIE), Chartered Mining Engineer (UK and Sri Lanka). He previously held the positions of General Manager of Lanka Phosphate Ltd., Senior Mining Engineer in Underground Graphite Mining.

Mining Projects:

Sri Lanka: Graphite, Phosphate, and Limestone.
International: Construction Aggregate and Dimension Stone Mine Planning, Iron Ore (Donbass, Ukraine) and Iron Ore Project Evaluation (Mozambique).

Eng. D. M. Wijayapala - Senior Consultant Chartered Engineer

30 years of experience in mining and mineral processing in Sri Lanka, Qatar, and Oman. With an academic and professional background including Member of the Institution of Engineers - Sri Lanka, Visiting Lecturer at the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, Former Positions held are Senior Manager (Construction aggregate mines), Member of Board of Directors of Lanka Phosphate Pvt Ltd.

Mineral Processing and Mining Projects:

Sri Lanka: Construction Aggregate and Manufacturing Sand Plant Design and Operations.
International: Iron Ore Project Evaluation (Mozambique), Gold Processing Plant Design (Somalia) and Construction Aggregate and Dimension Stone Mine Planning (Oman).

Eng. Thushara A. Madanayaka, PhD - Senior Consultant Engineer

12 years of experience in Sri Lanka and Australia in the areas of Geo-Technical Engineering (Rock and Soil Mechanics) and Mining Engineering. He is a Senior Academic in Geo-Technical Engineering. He has collaborated with major mining companies on sites such as Mount Isa Mines, Lady Loretta Mine, Minjar Gold Mine in Australia.

Geo. Susantha Gamage - Senior Consultant Exploration

With over 28 years of experience in Sri Lanka, Australia, Tanzania, Oman, and Somalia specialising in mineral processing plant design, installation and operation, mineral exploration and mining, geophysics. Holding expertise in Geophysical Methods such as Electrical (VES, CVES, SP, and IP), Electromagnetic (FDEM and TDEM), Magnetic, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Gravity. Former positions held Mines Manager at Naracoopa Mineral Sands Pty Ltd., Australia, Chief Geologist at Alraqua Mining and Investment LLB, Oman and Bait Al Hardy LLB., Oman.

Mineral processing plant design, installation and operation projects:

International: Mineral Sand at Australia, Naracoopa Mineral Sands Pty Ltd, Gem mining at Tanzania

Exploration and Mining projects:

Chromite and Manganese (Oman), Gem, Mineral Sand and coal (Tanzania), Copper Exploration (Somaliland), Mineral Sand (Madagascar). Groundwater (Sri Lanka)

Kapila Gunarathne - Team Leader / Environmental Specialist/GIS specialist

Kapila Gunarathne holds an M.Sc. in Ecology from the University of Warwick, U.K., and a B.A. (Hons.) from the University of Peradeniya. With 25 years of experience, he brings extensive expertise to our team.