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Sri Lanka
3

Banking, finance and capital markets

Varners

More information
Varners’ team is led by Raj Selvaskandan and Ayanthi Abeyawickrama, who together bring extensive experience across transactional, regulatory, and project finance matters to the group. Selvaskandan’s background in M&A and large-scale development work is complemented by Abeyawickrama’s expertise in capital markets regulation, gained during her tenure at the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka. The team also includes Vinothini Amarasekara, a key figure in debt finance and foreign investment, and Krishanth Rajasooriyar, whose prior experience in the technology sector has positioned him as a specialist in fintech and cross-border transactions.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Varners go beyond the in-depth understanding of the law to a deep sense of commercial as well as people aspects - which makes them a unique team to work with.'

  • 'The team has brought together widespread knowledge, from property to retail to manufacturing, that has helped us in key discussions and negotiations. Their global knowledge about structures is also very useful.’

  • ‘Raj Selvaskandan is a lawyer who can reach out to the core of the business, cut out the the noise and address the key issues at hand in a manner that is acceptable to all parties. This is a rare quality to be seen in lawyers. He is trustworthy and he ensures we take account of all angles in a transaction.’

Key clients

  • Colombo Port City Economic Commission
  • Pegasus Capital Advisors
  • HERCapital
  • Bank of China
  • People's Leasing and Finance PLC
  • Ceyloan
  • Commercial Credit & Finance PLC
  • Capitol Towers Limited
  • Shearwater Investments

Work highlights

Advised the Colombo Port City Economic Commission on the regulatory framework for offshore banking operations within the Colombo Port City SEZ.
Advised Pegasus Capital Advisors, fund manager for the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, on its $10m financing of a sustainable aquaculture project in Sri Lanka.
Advised HERCapital on the structuring and establishment of an investment fund supporting women entrepreneurs.

Practice head

Raj Selvaskandan; Ayanthi Abeyawickrama

Other key lawyers

Vinothini Amarasekara; Krishanth Rajasooriyar; Malarmathy Tharmaratnam; Abdul Razeen