Central Bank Governor Chief Guest at Trade Finance Association of Bankers 20th anniversary celebrati

Trade Finance Association of Bankers (TFAB) will be holding their 20th anniversary celebrations along with the Annual Inter-Bank Trade Quiz and Social at the Balmoral Hall, Kingsbury Hotel on Saturday, 15 July with the Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka as the Chief Guest.    

The annual Inter-Bank Trade Finance Quiz will precede the event with over 26 teams competing for the ‘Seylan Bank Challenge Trophy’ on 15 July at Kingsbury Hotel. Several CEOs of commercial banks are expected to participate along with the members of the corporate management senior bankers attached to Trade Department. Some government officials from departments having for imports and exports have also been invited. The Past Presidents and the inaugural council members will be also present and add more glamour to the event.

The Inter-bank Trade Quiz has been the premier event of the Association and is designed to test and share the knowledge in international trade finance among the trade practitioners. The social which follows facilitate networking to improve connectivity among the bankers handling trade across all commercial banks in Sri Lanka.  

The Council for the year 2017/2018 headed by the President Manjula Gunawardena took up the responsibility for delivering the planned events for the 20th anniversary, was elected at the AGM. At this event a simple ceremony was held to launch the 20th anniversary logo as well as the theme for the 20th anniversary year which is ‘International Trade at the tipping point’. 

The Trade Finance Association of Bankers was founded by eminent trade professionals 20 years ago, some of whom are Trade Consultants and Chief Executive Officers of banks today. The Association was founded to achieve the following objectives: 

• To facilitate the exchange of views among members and other individuals and/or organisations on matters related to Trade Finance.
• To promote consistency in Trade Finance practices among bankers.
• To engage in educational activities for members and other practitioners of Trade Finance by holding lectures, seminars, workshops and other activities.
• To encourage research and provide research facilities in the field of Trade Finance.
• To assist members to further their learning and knowledge on matters related to Trade Finance.
• To publish a periodic Journal or Newsletter containing material relating to Trade Finance or other connected areas.
• To express its opinion on matters related to Trade Finance practices.
• To study and submit its report on any matter related to Trade Finance.
• To co-ordinate with any regulatory authority or other organisations on matters related to Trade Finance.
• To promote goodwill, understanding and fellowship amongst bankers engaged in Trade Finance.

At the Inaugural General Meeting held in 1997 the following Council Members of the Association were elected:

A. Kathiravelupillai – President, Ernest Gunasekera – Vice President, Michael Peiris – Secretary General, Ananda Liyanage – Assistant Secretary, Jegan Durairatnam – Treasurer, Damayanthi Tillekeratne – Assistant Treasurer, and as Council Members: Ravi Molligoda, Parama Dharmawardene, Lakshman Edward, J.L.S. Liyanage, Kumar Wickramarachchi, A.H. Bakshy, and Preethi Jayawardena.

The Association has since been continuously engaged in developing the trade practices as well as the trade practitioners, by conducting public seminars, guest lectures, publication of newsletters and taking up trade related issues with the relevant regulatory authorities. The educational tour to the Colombo Port which is fully sponsored by the Association has been well received by its members. 

The annual six-a-side cricket tournament the ‘Trade Sixes’ is another event organised by the Association to promote goodwill, understanding and fellowship among its members across all commercial banks in Sri Lanka. This year the Association is planning to include Netball along with the Trade Cricket Sixes to add colour to the sporting and fellowship event. 

We must acknowledge with gratitude the commercial banks operating in Sri Lanka who have always extended their fullest support to the Association for playing a major role in the development of trade practitioners, their staff members, and addressing issues affecting the trade business.

We must convey our special thanks to our sponsors for their generosity and contribution for all the events of the Association this centenary year Our Platinum Sponsors – Bank of Ceylon, Commercial Bank and Deutsche Bank, our Gold Sponsors – Peoples Bank and Seylan Bank, Silver Sponsors – AB Securitas Ltd., National Development Bank and Sampath Bank, and our Bronze sponsors – Citibank, DFCC Bank, Hatton National Bank, HSBC, Nations Trust Bank, Pan Asia Bank, Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation, Union Bank and Daily FT is the print media partner along with Daily Mirror and Sunday Times.