Board Members

SATVA FUND SRI LANKA

Sujit CanagaRetna

President, Satva Fund Sri Lanka

Sujit’s professional career has focused entirely on the public policy arena: tracking fiscal and economic trends for The Council of State Governments’ (CSG) Southern Office, the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) in Atlanta, Georgia for nearly 20 years and prior to that, assessing the efficiency and efficacy of New York City-funded programs at the Office of the Comptroller, City of New York for nearly six years.

After leaving CSG/SLC in February 2017, Sujit began volunteering at organizations focused on helping refugees and new immigrants; reading to the blind and visually-impaired; preparing food for those with early stages of dementia; and, delivering groceries to the elderly and indigent. Sujit serves as a member of the Board of the Georgia Radio Reading Service (GaRRS), Georgia’s premier provider of information for individuals who are visually-impaired or otherwise print-impaired.

He is also a volunteer election worker for the Cobb County (Georgia) Board of Elections. More recently, Sujit took on a position as Senior Policy Advisor at E Pluribus Unum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded by the former mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, Mitch Landrieu, whose mission is to build a more equitable and inclusive South.

After receiving his early education at Royal College, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sujit gained admission to the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, where he studied for a year. He then transferred to Bennington College in Vermont where he completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Sujit then earned Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of International Affairs (MIA) degrees from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University in New York.

Sujit and his wife Shanthini live in Smyrna, Georgia.

Email: sujitc@satvafund.org

Chrishan Muttiah

Treasurer, Satva Fund Sri Lanka

Chrishan, an engineer by training, has spent the past 20+ years in the healthcare arena in the areas of strategy and business transformation.

Following his early education at Royal College, Colombo he gained a bachelor’s degree in engineering from The Imperial College London and a master’s degree in business administration from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Chrishan is the Head of Strategy and Growth Ventures for the US and Canadian business at GE Healthcare, a leading manufacturer of medical technology equipment and solutions. Prior to his current role, Chrishan held positions of increasing responsibility at Pfizer and Sanofi. Chrishan also spent 5 years as a strategy consultant.

He lives in Tenafly, New Jersey with his wife Mihaela, their daughter Kiran and two cocker spaniels.

Email: chrishanm@satvafund.org

Sherine Jayawickrama

Secretary, Satva Fund Sri Lanka

Sherine is an independent consultant working with international NGOs on efforts to enhance organizational governance, improve organizational learning, and evaluate organizational development processes. She has 25 years of experience in nonprofit organizations and international development. Sherine serves on the Board of Oxfam America and chairs its Board Development & Governance Committee.

For five years, Sherine managed the Humanitarian & Development NGOs domain of practice at the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Harvard University, and served as Executive Director of the NGO Leaders Forum (an annual retreat of the CEOs of America’s major international NGOs). For ten years prior to that, she worked at CARE USA in a variety of positions, including in Asia regional management and in reproductive health advocacy. Sherine began her career in international development in Sri Lanka working in USAID’s Natural Resources & Environmental Policy Project (NARAPP).

Sherine grew up in Sri Lanka and is a proud past pupil of St. Bridget’s Convent. She has a B.A. in economics and international relations from Scripps College, and an M.P.A. from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

Sherine lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

Email: sherinej@satvafund.org

Nilakshi Silva

Board Member, Satva Fund Sri Lanka

Nilakshi has been an educator for over twenty years as a teacher, administrator and elementary school principal. Following her early education at St. Bridget’s Convent, Sri Lanka, she attended Western Michigan University for Marketing before moving to Los Angeles and then to Las Vegas. Nilakshi graduated from the University of Phoenix with a degree in Human Services in Non-Profit.

She served the community of Las Vegas at Nathan Adelson Hospice Center, West Care Center for troubled youth, and Junior Achievement.

Nilakshi has worked for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas for over 15 years at multiple parishes and Catholic schools as a Director of Religious Education for Children, Catholic School Principal and a Pastoral Associate for Religious Education for Adults. She received her Certification in Liturgy and Scripture Studies from the Institute of Liturgical Ministry, Dayton Ohio. She is trained in early childhood and elementary education through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Religious Formation. She is trained in Marriage Preparation through the FOCCUS Marriage Ministries, Archdiocese of Omaha. She currently serves as a trainer for religious formation for teachers and catechists at parishes in Las Vegas.

She lives with her husband and their two daughters.

Email: nilakshis@satvafund.org

SANALI MCFADDEN

Board Member, Satva Fund Sri Lanka

Sanali has worked as a Director of Wellness & Spa since 2005. In Bermuda, she partnered in the creative process and successful opening of the spa complex at the luxury Newstead Belmont Hills Golf Resort and the unique spa within an ancient grotto at Grotto Bay Beach Resort. From early 2022, Sanali has played an integral role in the successful opening of the 25,000 square foot luxury wellness space at Aman New York and serves as Director of Wellness & Spa.

She is a clinically trained and licensed Neuromuscular Therapist and an educator holding a formal affiliation with Atlanta School of Massage & Aesthetics. Sanali started her career in the airline industry at the age of 19, spending over a decade as a Flight Attendant, Flight Purser, Crew Trainer & Administrator working for Emirates, Oman Air and Sri Lankan Airlines. Her early education was at St. Bridget’s Convent, Sri Lanka and St. Patrick’s College, Queensland, Australia. Sanali obtained her Diploma in Neuromuscular Therapy, Wellness Massage & Spa Therapies from Atlanta School of Massage Therapy & Aesthetics. She has volunteered her massage therapy skills with infants with health complications and growth issues, in battered women’s shelters and Red Cross shelters and with aged military widows. New York City is currently home to Sanali and her daughter Jada.