APB to promote ‘Sustainability in Volatility’ at 24th anniversary convention

The Association of Professional Bankers (APB) – Sri Lanka, the country’s most representative organisation of banking professionals, will hold its 24th anniversary convention on 13 and 14 August 2012 at the Cinnamon Grand on the theme ‘Sustainability in Volatility: the Bankers’ Challenge’.

APB, the premier professional body for career bankers, was established in 1988 with the objectives of undertaking, promoting and facilitating studies in the field of banking and promoting fellowship and understanding among members of the association and plays a vital role in facilitating bankers to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills with the objective of improving the banking system of the country.

The Annual Convention, its key learning and development activity, seeks to create a forum that brings together leading professionals and eminent academics to share, discuss and generate new ideas for the development of the industry as well as to facilitate networking among the banking professionals, industry experts and eminent academics.

The theme for this year’s convention, ‘Sustainability in Volatility: the Bankers’ Challenge,’ is topical and reflects the role that the bankers in Sri Lanka are expected to play in the present context.

Sri Lanka is ready to embark on a new journey with many hopes of prosperity in a context where peace and stability, two key elements which are required for sustainable development are firmly established. In the face of deeper integration of national economies with regional economies and eventually with global economies, sustaining business growth at times of volatility has indeed become a great challenge for bankers.

The inaugural ceremony on Monday, 13 August 2012, will attract several distinguished local and foreign dignitaries including chairmen and CEOs of banks and other institutions. Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest.

The panel discussion dedicated to the foremost concerns of bankers today such as economic volatility, risk management, human capital development, good governance and repositioning of the industry will follow on 14 August and these sessions chaired by eminent personalities are expected to attract approximately 400 delegates.

“APB, being aware of the latest developments taking place in the industry, understands the need to act as a catalyst in driving the financial services industry forward. The growth and competitiveness of the industry will depend very much on how accurately we predict the challenges and find ways to proactively overcome them and we believe that the APB annual convention will facilitate the bankers to equip themselves with the requisite knowledge, competence and skills,” said APB President and Convention Committee Chairman H.M. Hennayake Bandara.