Amal Sanderatne, CFA
Amal Sanderatne, Founder of Frontier Research Pvt. Ltd. (1976 - 2023)
Amal founded Frontier at the age of 27, with the vision of building a corporate culture which allows all its stakeholders to choose how to best use their time. Disillusioned by the 9-5 culture and corporate moulds which inhibit individual creativity, he envisioned a "life first" workplace which focuses on what's best for its employees and all its stakeholders. Amal believed in treating everyone equally, building a non-hierarchical organisation, providing a safe space for each one to speak their own views, while inculcating the importance of radical candor in all our conversations.
Prior to establishing Frontier, Amal was the Head of Research, Jardine Fleming HNB Securities, Sri Lanka. Following the takeover of Jardine Fleming by JP Morgan Chase he was transferred to Singapore where he led JP Morgan’s Asia Pacific ADR research and also managed the research of Hong Kong based Access Products Group.
We remember Amal most fondly for his unmatched intellect, his efforts to remain independent and unbiased, his ability to think way beyond his time, the respectful and uninhibited culture he built, the opportunities he provided for the young, and the infectious excitement he brought to the table every time he wanted to try something new.
As Amal would say "Change is the only constant" and everyone whose lives he's touched will keep his legacy alive at Frontier and beyond!
All Media Appearances
Rise in US interest rates, capital move out to affect Sri Lanka - Economist
16-12-27
Following the US presidential election, money has suddenly started flowing out of emerging markets and currencies similar to Sri Lanka have been weakening, which is again causing another round of pressure, Frontier Research CEO Amal Sanderatne said.
Sri Lanka central bank keeps policy rates steady at record lows
15-1-25
Sri Lanka’s central bank kept key policy rates steady at record lows for a 12th straight month on Tuesday, as expected, and said inflation was expected to ease further with the economy expected “to record a robust performance” in the period ahead.
Too late for reforms?
18-11-30
After two years of uncertainty and low growth, Sri Lanka’s economy is expected to have a better run in 2018 and beyond, driven by consumer demand, increasing government spending and a pick-up in exports with GSP Plus trade concessions to the EU taking effect, according to Frontier Research.
Reserve outflows ring alarm bells
16-12-7
Sri Lanka’s economy could possibly be at the early stages of spiralling into another crisis if the trend of reserve outflows experienced recently were to continue, the country’s leading economic analysts told a forum organised by a top commercial bank in Colomb
Meet the go to guy for economic forecasts
13-1-12
Amal Sanderatne is not a government policy maker or an economist doing talk show rounds and newspaper columns, prescribing economic policy. Sanderatne is an economic forecaster. In fact he refuses to be drawn in to addressing policy challenges facing the Sri Lankan economy, except to endorse an obvious weakness like the destabilising effects of large budget deficits. However in just the last year he accurately forecasted the rupee’s appreciation from the Rs132 levels to the dollar and also called the decline in bond yields.
Economy: heading for a bubble?
10-3-25
The turbo-charged performance of the stock market and the euphoria over the numbers that reflect a remarkable revival of the economy and the corporate sector tend to hide the ugly reality that the majority of the people in the country are not enjoying the fruits of the market economy.
Lankan economy outlook, Bourse, mid-cap stocks analysed at SMB Investor Forum
15-3-11
Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic outlook, potential investment opportunities in mid-cap stocks and potential movements in the Sri Lankan rupee were among a range of topics analysed at an investor forum – the first in a planned series of workshops – organised by stockbroking firm SMB Securities Ltd.
Lankan companies optimistic about future
09-7-18
Companies are expecting strong growth and increased opportunities from the peace dividend in the coming year, according to a survey conducted by MTI Consulting of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs). At a Corporate Finance Forum this week, MTI Chief Executive Officer Hilmy Cader said companies are also looking towards value creation and cost optimisation.