Trade Finance Association of Bankers holds 29th Annual General Meeting

Seated (from left):  Lakshana Fernando (Assistant Treasurer), Harsha Silva (Treasurer), Kapila Susantha (Vice President), Rajaratnam Naguleswaran (President), Indika Liyanage (Senior Vice President), Kanchana De Silva (Secretary General), Kumari Bastiansz (Assistant Secretary), and Shyam De Silva (Immediate Past President)

Standing (from left):  Nisitha Karunathilaka, Chanaka De Silva, Afzal Malik, Niranjan Dabare, Sandamali Ranepura, Sajeevani Wijetilleke, Samanthie Fernando, Shailajah Sukumaran, Dilushi De Soyza, Eranda Weerakoon, Kesara Balasuriya, Shanaka Weimen, and Ramesh Amarasinghe 

The Trade Finance Association of Bankers (TFAB) successfully held its 29th Annual General Meeting (AGM) recently at the Bank of Ceylon Auditorium in Colombo.

As the only professional body representing trade finance practitioners in the country, TFAB plays a pivotal role in fostering knowledge sharing, collaboration, and professional development within the banking and financial services sector.

Established on November 11, 1997, the association has consistently worked towards enhancing expertise in trade finance through a wide range of initiatives. These include seminars, lectures, training programmes, industry discussions, study tours, and newsletters, all of which provide valuable learning opportunities for banking professionals while supporting the continuous development of the sector.

In line with evolving communication trends, TFAB actively engages its members through digital platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook. These channels ensure that members remain updated on industry developments, regulatory changes, and the association’s ongoing activities.

TFAB also maintains close collaboration with key regulatory and industry stakeholders, including the Import and Export Control Department, Sri Lanka Customs, and the Department of Foreign Exchange of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Through these partnerships, the association contributes to policy discussions, helps address industry challenges, and supports the development of effective solutions to strengthen Sri Lanka’s international trade finance sector.

The association’s membership comprises all Licenced Commercial Banks and a Licenced Specialised Bank operating in Sri Lanka, underscoring its strong representation across the banking industry. TFAB is further supported by a distinguished Advisory Committee made up of seasoned professionals and veterans in the field, whose expertise continues to guide and strengthen the association’s initiatives. The Committee comprises A. Kathiravelupillai, Michael Peiris, Jayantha Newunhella, Thushy David, and A. S. M. W. Kumarasiri, who serve as Advisory Committee Members.

At the AGM, Rajaratnam Naguleswaran, Assistant Vice President – FI & Correspondent Banking at DFCC Bank PLC, was elected as President of TFAB for the 2026/2027 term. He counts for more than 34 years of banking experience across branch banking, international operations, offshore banking, remittances, and correspondent banking. He is a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka and contributes to the industry as a resource person and examiner. He also serves as Treasurer of the PIM Alumni and is a Life Member of the Association of Professional Bankers Sri Lanka. He has previously held the positions of Secretary General, Vice President and Senior Vice President of the Association.

The newly elected President in his speech highlighted the challenges the industry facing, such as geopolitical tensions, shifting supply chains, rising protectionism, evolving sanctions regimes, digital disruption, and heightened compliance requirements. He stressed his commitment to collaborating closely with the council through five key approaches as mentioned below to address the challenges outlined above. 

Strengthening technical excellence: Trade finance is becoming increasingly complex. From regulatory requirements to sanctions compliance and fraud prevention, our members must remain technically strong and globally aligned. We will conduct structured training programs, technical workshops, and knowledge-sharing forums to ensure Sri Lankan trade bankers maintain world-class standards.

Accelerating digital transformation: The future of trade finance is digital. Paper-based processes are slow, costly, and vulnerable to risk. As an Association, we will promote awareness of electronic documentation, digital LCs, and emerging technologies. We will also engage stakeholders to explore enabling frameworks that support modernization while maintaining regulatory integrity. 

Supporting export growth and SME access: Trade finance is a catalyst for economic growth. Yet many SMEs face challenges in accessing structured trade solutions. We will work to share best practices, conduct awareness sessions for exporters, and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the link between banking support and national export priorities. 

Enhancing risk management: In today’s volatile global environment, sanctions risk, trade-based money laundering, and fraud are increasing concerns. We will prioritize knowledge-sharing on emerging risk patterns and encourage adoption of stronger compliance and monitoring practices. Proactive risk management must become our collective culture. 

Strengthening the Association: We will focus on greater member engagement, structured communication, and the development of young trade finance professionals. A strong Association must not only serve its members but also become a respected voice in policy dialogue and industry development. New President invited each of the Association to actively participate, contribute their expertise, and support this shared vision.

The following members were elected as office-bearers of the Trade Finance Association of Bankers for the year 2026/2027 during the Annual General Meeting.  President – Rajaratnam Naguleswaran (Assistant Vice President - FI and Correspondent Banking, DFCC Bank PLC),  Senior Vice President – Indika Liyanage (Chief Manager, Trade Finance, National Development Bank PLC), Vice President – Kapila Susantha (Assistant General Manager, Trade Services, Bank of Ceylon), Secretary General - Kanchana De Silva (Chief Manager - Trade Services, Union Bank of Colombo PLC), Assistant Secretary – Kumari Bastiansz (Manager Exports, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC),  Treasurer – Harsha Silva  (Trade Operations Head - Citibank N.A), Assistant Treasurer - Lakshana Fernando (Head of Trade, Amana Bank PLC), Editor - Sandamali Ranepura (Senior Manager, Trade Services, People’s Bank), 

Council members include Niranjan Dabare (Deutsche Bank AG), Ramesh Amarasinghe (State Bank of India), Shanaka Weimen (Cargills Bank PLC), Sandamali Ranepura (People’s Bank), Samanthie Fernando – (MCB Bank Ltd), Shailajah Sukumaran (Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC), Kesara Balasuriya (Seylan Bank PLC),  Eranda Weerakoon (Bank of China Ltd) , Nisitha Karunathilaka (Nations Trust Bank PLC), Chanaka De Silva (Sampath Bank PLC), Dilushi De Soyza (The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd), Sajeevani Wijethileke (Standard Chartered Bank), Afzal Malik (Hatton National Bank PLC).

Immediate Past President is Shyam De Silva (Assistant Vice President - Centralised Trade Operations, Hatton National Bank PLC)