Sunday Oct 27, 2024
FT
Sunday Oct 27, 2024
Friday, 11 October 2024 00:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
In an initiative to establish a mutually rewarding partnership, the Association of Professional Bankers (APB) of Sri Lanka entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies of the University of Kelaniya (UoK) with a view to recognise the most outstanding graduate in the Banking Degree Program and to provide financial support to pursue his/her postgraduate studies, while also looking to collaborate with the Department of Finance in organising the Banking Summit curated annually by the Finance Students’ Association.
This MoU also enshrines collaboration between the parties on training and knowledge sharing for the benefit of the wider stakeholders of the respective bodies.
The APB Sri Lanka has entered into MoUs with selected educational institutions in order to provide greater benefits to its members through collaboration with such institutions. The main objective of these MoUs is to promote and nurture education and practice related to the field of Banking and Finance. In essence, these MoUs envisage deriving synergistic benefits of human and physical resources by capitalising on the institutional strengths of the MoU partners.
The MoU was signed by APB Sri Lanka President Halin Hettigoda and UoK Vice Chancellor Prof. Nilanthi De Silva in the presence of representatives of Executive Committee members of the APB and lecturers of the UoK at the Banking and Insurance Summit held on 4 September at the Duncan White Auditorium at the Sports Ministry
complex.
Hettigoda in his address mentioned and acknowledged the UoK and the Finance Students’ Association for their commendable efforts in organising the summit and highlighted the critical importance of innovation, especially in the face of rapid technological advancements and evolving consumer needs.
He also emphasised the significance of the MoU, which marks a collaborative effort between academia and industry, whose partnership aims to enhance students’ knowledge and practical skills, preparing them for future challenges.
He praised the University for fostering platforms that bring together industry experts, academics, and students and the crucial role such initiatives play in nurturing the next generation of industry leaders. He further expressed optimism about the positive impact of the insights gained and partnerships formed during the summit and for fruitful exchanges and collaborations in the future too. The theme for this year’s summit, ‘Bridging Knowledge and Innovation: The Future of Banking and Insurance,’ brought together industry leaders, professionals, and students to explore the latest trends and innovations in the Banking and Insurance sectors. The panel discussion, which consisted of a group of eminent panellists, was represented by two Chief Information Officers from the banking fraternity; Commercial Bank PLC CIO Sumudu Gunawardhana and Seylan Bank PLC CIO Harsha Wanigatunga.
