APB Sri Lanka earns regional recognition at Banking Summit in Nepal

The Association of Professional Bankers (APB) Sri Lanka, the country’s professional body for banking, has marked a new milestone when its leadership participated in the BFIN International Banking Summit 2025, held in Kathmandu, Nepal on 15 and 16 August 2025.

Organised by the Bankers’ Forum of Nepal (BFIN), the summit brought together eminent policymakers, regulators, CEOs, and senior executives from across South Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. It served as a platform for meaningful dialogue on global financial trends, economic challenges, technological disruption, and the importance of building resilient and sustainable banking systems.

APB Sri Lanka was represented by its President, Anton Arumugam, who addressed the gathering as a distinguished speaker. His presentation, titled “Pathways to Stability: Exploring Financial Resilience,” highlighted the importance of building robust financial ecosystems through innovation, sustainability, and cross-border collaboration.

Arumugam was the sole representative from Sri Lanka to speak at the event, a moment of pride that placed both the APB and the Sri Lankan banking fraternity on the international stage. His insights, drawing from Sri Lanka’s experiences, resonated strongly with participants from diverse financial markets and reinforced APB’s growing role in shaping regional financial conversations.

Joining him at the summit was APB Senior Vice President Dilshan Perera, who engaged in discussions with BFIN and other associations, further strengthening APB’s presence and fostering new avenues of cooperation.

Beyond the formal proceedings, the summit provided an invaluable opportunity for APB to explore collaboration with BFIN Nepal. Productive discussions between the two associations identified several areas of partnership, including:

• Professional development — Joint training initiatives and workshops to develop skills among young banking professionals.
• Knowledge sharing — Research exchange and dissemination of insights on key topics such as financial inclusion, risk management, and digital transformation.
• Networking opportunities
•  — Expanding regional exposure for members of both organisations through participation in future forums.
• Joint conventions — Exploring the potential for co-hosted events to unite banking associations across South Asia.

These discussions laid the foundation for a partnership that promises to enhance professional excellence while deepening regional integration of the banking sector.

The recognition given to APB at this high-profile summit was significant on several levels. It reinforced APB’s credibility as the authoritative professional body for Sri Lankan bankers, highlighted its growing regional relevance, and positioned the association as a key contributor to the global dialogue on financial resilience.

Delegates from neighbouring countries acknowledged the APB’s commitment to uplifting professional standards in Sri Lanka, while extending invitations for future collaboration. Such recognition demonstrates that the APB is now firmly establishing itself as a respected regional partner in the financial services community.

For over three decades, the Association of Professional Bankers Sri Lanka has been at the forefront of promoting professional excellence in the banking industry. Its participation in the BFIN International Banking Summit 2025 marks an important turning point — extending its influence beyond Sri Lanka and onto the global stage.

As APB looks ahead, the momentum gained through this summit and the emerging partnership with BFIN Nepal will serve as a springboard for future collaborations, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s banking professionals continue to play a vital role in shaping the regional and global financial landscape.