Association of Professional Bankers’ anniversary convention on 13 and 14 August

Association of Professional Bankers (APB) – Sri Lanka, the country’s premier professional body for career bankers will hold its 24th Anniversary Convention on 13 and 14 August at the Cinnamon Grand on the theme ‘Sustainability in volatility: the bankers’ challenge’.

The annual convention is APB’s key learning and development activity 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.

This year’s theme is quite 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.

The inaugural ceremony on 13 August will be graced by Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal as Chief Guest while CIMB Investment Bank Malaysia CEO Dato’ Charon Wardini Mokhzani will be the keynote speaker for the evening.

Four technical sessions and a panel discussion focusing on 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 renowned academics and eminent professionals such as University of Sri Jayawardenepura Head, Dept. of Human Resources Management Prof. H.H.D.N.P. Opatha, University of Colombo Head, Dept. of Economics Prof. Sirimal Abeyratne, Central Bank Asst. Governor P. Samarasiri, Murugesu and Neelakandan Precedent Partner Kandiah Neelakandan, Nithya Partners Precedent Partner Arittha R. Wikramanayake, Commercial Bank Chairman Dinesh Weerakkody, Cargills Bank Managing Director Harris Premaratne, Frontier Research CEO Amal Sanderatne, First Capital Group Group CEO Jehaan Ismail, Nihal Welikala, DFCC Bank Chief Risk Officer Trevin Fernandopulle and Sanjeewa Senanayake will take part in these sessions.

Approximately 400 delegates are expected to attend the convention this time.  

‘The growth and competitiveness of the banking 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 to prepare themselves.’ said the APB President and Chairman Convention Committee H.M. Hennayake Bandara.