Chandula delivers key speech at Peking University, China

HNB Development Banking Deputy General Manager Chandula Abeywickrema, recently delivered a key speech at the Lifelong Asset Building Strategies and Innovations in Asia conference organised by the Peking University in Beijing, China and Washington University in St. Louis. It was co-hosted by Levi Strauss Foundation, Keswick Foundation and Ford Foundation in the US, and was held at the conference facility of Peking University in Beijing, China from 16 to 18 November 2012.

The conference focussed on Asset Building for financial security over the life of an individual especially focussing on Asia Pacific Region and the innovations that are occurring in social policies and the economic development strategies by offering appropriate financial products and services to the people at the bottom of the pyramid.

The conference brought together some of the globally leading scholars, policy makers, practitioners, corporate leaders and fund raisers, sharing their expertise knowledge, ideas and innovative initiatives.  

Abeywickrema who is also the Chairman of Banking with the poor network, is recognised in Asia as an expert in the microfinance industry was invited by the organisers to share the innovations in asset building for children and youth in Asia. Among the other leading speakers who contributed to the success of the conference were: Founding Director of the Centre for Social Development (CSD) at Washington University in St. Louise, Prof. Micheal Sherraden, Prof. Wang Sibin of Peking University, Prof. James Lee of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Levi Strauss Foundation Executive Director Prof. Daniel Lee, Prof. Ho Kong Chong of National University of Singapore, Prof. Han Chang-Keun, Sungkunkwan University of Korea and Prof. Deng Suo of Peking University,