[3][4] In January 1992, he pursued his entrepreneurial interests by co-founding Asia Capital Ltd, which became Sri Lanka's largest investment bank.
The company was Sri Lanka's top stock broker in terms of market share in 1993 and 1994 and responsible for several landmark corporate finance transactions.
He became the youngest ever (at 35), longest serving (5 ½ years) and the first private sector full-time head of this prestigious public institution.
Whilst at the BOI, he established many "firsts" including pioneering privatisation and investment transactions in ports, power and telecom sectors, housing development, software and IT, including co-founding the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, now Sri Lanka's largest IT University by far.
[3][4] In 2002 Thilan decided on a change of career focus from investment banking to property and leisure development to pursue his passion for design and architecture.
This was followed by the successful sale of majority control of this Group to John Keells Holdings, Sri Lanka's largest conglomerate.
[3][4] He was instrumental in identifying and procuring a 500-acre land bank for future resort and holiday villa developments and played an active role in creation of The Fortress, currently among the top small luxury hotels in Sri Lanka's south coast.
Thilan exited his investment and CEO position in F&W in January 2010, though he continues to serve as non-executive Director of MJF's leisure management and development businesses.
He is also a Director of www.srilankainstyle.com, Sri Lanka's premier travel planning and ground handling company catering to up-market tourists.
ORC owns Sri Lanka's largest modern office building, the World Trade Centre (WTC), and Colombo city's largest contiguous block of residential and commercial land, the 18 acre Havelock City property, which is currently being developed into an integrated mixed development.
He debuted at the P. Saravanamuttu Trophy Division 1 Tournament for the Tamil Union Cricket Club at the age of 15 and scored his maiden century the same year, in 1975.
[3][10] In the year 1992 Thilan permanently retired from all competitive cricket, having chosen to pursue entrepreneurial interests as a co-founder of Asia Capital PLC.
Since they all played by ear, never having had formal music lessons in their lives, young Thilan too watched their performance and learned the art of how to create a fine rhythm by piano and later by guitar and harmonica.