LOLC Holdings chairman Ishara Nanayakkara has dethroned Dhammika Perera to become Sri Lanka’s richest man, joining South Asia’s elite billionaire circle alongside Mukesh Ambani, Shahid Khan, and Binod Chaudhary.
As of 2025, Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, remains the wealthiest individual in India and South Asia with an estimated net worth of $118 billion. Joining the ranks of the region’s billionaires this year is Sri Lankan business magnate Ishara Nanayakkara, who now commands a fortune of $1.6 billion.
Ambani’s vast empire spans telecom, energy, petrochemicals, and retail, keeping him in a league of his own. Yet, across South Asia, several other tycoons are making waves in their respective economies and Sri Lanka is no exception.
In Sri Lanka, Ishara Nanayakkara has overtaken long-time tycoon Dhammika Perera to claim the title of the country’s richest man. As the chairman of LOLC Holdings, a diversified financial services and investment conglomerate with operations in more than 10 countries, Nanayakkara has driven the group’s global expansion into microfinance, insurance, and strategic investments. His leadership has positioned Sri Lanka as a notable player in emerging markets.
Elsewhere in the region, Pakistan’s Shahid Khan holds a $13.5 billion fortune, built in the United States through auto parts manufacturing and ownership of major sports franchises. In Bangladesh, Mossa Bin Shamsher claims a $12 billion fortune though unverified earned through international business and political connections. Nepal’s Binod Chaudhary, valued at $1.6 billion, is renowned for his Wai Wai noodles empire and diverse business ventures.
