Fernando conducts credit risk management program for bankers in Saudi Arabia

A four-day program in Credit Risk Management was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia by Lalith J. Fernando, Acting Chief Risk Officer, Bank of Ceylon – a rare opportunity for a banker in Sri Lanka.

He got this opportunity as the relevant field is presently dominated by personnel from other countries in the world. It was an invitation by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency and conducted by the Institute of Banking of Saudi Arabia.

The focus group was top level bankers from leading banks in the country and included participants from Arab National Bank, Bank Albilad, Riyad Bank and Bank Muscat. The program covered credit risk assessment, mitigation and Basel II requirements in depth and road map for moving towards IRB approach. The way of delivery of the contents was highly acclaimed by the authorities and the participants as well.

Fernando is a certified Financial Risk Manager (FRM) having completed the requirements of Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) – USA, the topmost international professional body in the risk management arena.

While being a banker, Lalith serves as a resource person to most of the country’s leading institutions. Over 10 years of hands-on experience in dealing in risk related areas of a large financial institution together with his general banking experience and qualifications has enabled him as a well-known resource person in risk and compliance in the financial industry.

He is a visiting lecturer at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and renders his services as a resource person to the Institute of Bankers – Sri Lanka (IBSL) and Centre for Banking Studies of Central Bank of Sri Lanka. He also serves as an examiner in IBSL.

Lalith has an MSc in Management from University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, and has a BSc in Statistics from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka.