Tilani is in the banking and finance practice group of the firm.
Tilani has over 10 years’ of experience in advising international banks and international institutions (including multilateral/bi-lateral organizations) in relation to debt financing transactions with corporate entities in Sri Lanka, the Government of Sri Lanka and state-owned corporations. Her experience in financing includes advising on conventional debt financing and project financing.
She also advises several local banks (including international banks licensed to carry on banking business in Sri Lanka) and local financial institutions on various aspects of corporate and banking laws and in respect of particular transactions entered into by such entities and their day to day business operations.
In addition, Tilani advises payment service providers and e-commerce platform operators on the payment and settlement systems laws and anti-money laundering laws in the country.
Tilani holds a Masters of Law degree from the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo.
Tilani has advised several international banks and financial institutions including multilateral and bi-lateral agencies on debt transactions in Sri Lanka. She frequently advises on Sri Lanka laws (including foreign exchange laws) applicable in respect of loans granted to licensed commercial banks, financial institutions, the Government of Sri Lanka and state-owned enterprises. In these transactions, she has advised clients on both corporate and governmental authorizations required for the lending, the business of the borrower or the project (as the case may be) and also on such authorisations as are required for the purposes of issuing Sri Lanka law legal opinions on the validity and enforceability of the finance documents.
She has advised the joint lead managers from time to time in connection with the international sovereign bond issuances by the Government of Sri Lanka between 2011 and 2018. Work handled included advising on the offering to ensure compliance with Sri Lankan legal and regulatory regimes, acting for the joint lead managers during the due diligence studies on the Government of Sri Lanka conducted by the lead arrangers to the Issue & their legal counsels, advising on the offering circulars, the terms and conditions of the bonds, the purchase agreements between the Government of Sri Lanka and the lead arrangers, the indentures between the Government of Sri Lanka and the trustees and issuing Sri Lanka law opinions to the lead arrangers.
She was a team member in a study conducted by the World Bank Group on strengthening the legal framework applicable to the finance sector in Sri Lanka. The study entailed an analysis of all laws relevant to the local finance sector against international principles/standards and a compilation of a comprehensive report including recommendations to address shortcomings.
She has also advised two international banks on establishing a place of business in Sri Lanka and on all ancillary matters relating to the opening of an overseas company in Sri Lanka.
Tilani has advised payment service providers and e-commerce operators on the legal framework applicable to payment systems and services offered in Sri Lanka and also has experience in advising such clients on anti-money laundering laws.