33rd annual convention of Association of Professional Bankers a success

From left: Bank of Ceylon Chairman Ronald C.Perera PC, People’s Bank Chairman Sujeewa Rajapakse, moderator Sampath Bank Senior Deputy General Manager Shasi Kandambi Jassim, Hatton National Bank Chairperson Aruni Goonetilleke,Commercial Bank Chairman Prof. Ananda Jayawardane, and Sampath Bank Chairman Harsha Amarasekera PC

Moderator BCG India MD Abhinav Bansal, NDB Bank CEO Dimantha Seneviratne, Citi Bank Country Officer Raveen Basnayake and HNB MD-CEO Jonathan Alles at the panel

Moderator BCG India MD Abhinav Bansal, Commercial Bank Chief Information Officer Sumudu Gunawardhana, Dialog Axiata Group CEO Supun Weerasinghe and MasterCard South Asia Chief Operating Officer Vikas Varma at the panel

Port City Economic Commission Chairman and BOI Sri Lanka Chairman Dinesh Weerakkody, Sampath Bank Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Lalith Weragoda, Singer (Sri Lanka) HR and Business Integration Director Roshan Kulasuriya and Moderator – Daily FT Editor Nisthar Cassim at the panel

Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe

Port City Economic Commission Chairman and BOI Sri Lanka Chairman Dinesh Weerakkody

Dialog Axiata Group CEO Supun Weerasinghe

The Association of Professional Bankers successfully held the 33rd annual convention with the participation of an unprecedented number of professional bankers and non-bankers. 

Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weereasinghe delivering the keynote address stressed the point of maintaining professionalism in conducting banking business. He pointed out integrity, professionalism and technical skills are the main three pillars a banker should inculcate and practice in discharging their duties. He also shed light on the responsibility of the Central Bank in maintaining a healthy banking industry. In his speech, he emphasised that the Central Bank will ensure the stability of Sri Lankan banks in this challenging environment.

The convention had four technical sessions that deliberated on timely topics generating valuable takeaways for the participants. The topics for technical sessions; Resilience in VUCA world, Collaborating tech to adapt, Adaptable Skills and Resilient Leadership – The New Age Talent Formula and Steering through difficult times – View from the Top. The sessions were followed up by panel discussions where eminent professionals shared the wider in-depth knowledge and experience with the participants.

The salient feature was the final session – Chairmen’s forum that shed light on the responsibility of the hot seats of the respective banks – a novelty introduced this year and widely acclaimed by the participants.

The hot seats were represented by Bank of Ceylon Chairman Ronald C. Perera PC, People’s Bank Chairman Sujeewa Rajapakse, Commercial Bank Chairman Prof. Ananda Jayawardane, Hatton National Bank Chairperson Aruni Goonetilleke, and Sampath Bank Chairman Harsha Amarasekera PC and was moderated by Sampath Bank Senior Deputy General Manager Shasi Kandambi Jassim.

The speakers’ and panellists’ insights were well focused on the aptly relevant theme of this year “Resilient and Adaptable – Way Forward for Banking”.

The conclusion of the convention was followed by the customary cocktail leaving lasting impressions among the participants of the 33rd annual convention in 2023.

Pix by Upul Abayasekara