With a strong turnout every year, the IFN Sri Lanka Forum continues to attract players from different backgrounds and sectors looking to tap into Sri Lanka’s massive potential in terms of infrastructure development, as well as halal food and tourism sector. The prospects for growth in Sri Lanka are extremely attractive, with more banks opting to open Islamic banking windows and strong demand for Ijarah, Musharakah and Sukuk instruments.
Sri Lanka is also a strategic naval link between West Asia and Southeast Asia. A legislative breakthrough in 2005 which saw amendments being made to its Banking Act turned this economy into a potential hub for Islamic finance in the South Asian region. The 3rd IFN Sri Lanka Forum will be held in Colombo, and is set to attract a strong delegation from both the local and neighboring markets such as Pakistan, India, the Maldives and the UAE.
Agenda
Agenda
09:00 - 09:10
Prayer Recital
09:10 - 09:25
Welcome Address Mohamed Azmeer - Chief Executive Officer, Amana Bank
09:25 - 09:40
Keynote Address by Chief Guest Ajith Nivard Cabraal - Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka
09:40 - 10:40
CEO Session: Addressing Challenges through Innovation: Emerging Trends and Opportunities
Challenges for Islamic finance in continuing the growth of the industry in Sri Lanka
What will 2015 hold and what should our approach be
How can the Islamic finance industry in Sri Lanka align itself with the country´s strategic path (CBSL Roadmap)
Islamic finance outlook on MSME and retail banking
Growth prospects for infrastructure financing
Outlook for Takaful in Sri Lanka
Moderator:
Reyaz Mihular - Managing Partner, KPMG Sri Lanka
Panelists:
Ananda Silva - Senior Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka Fazal Ghaffoor - Chief Executive Officer, Amana Takaful Krishan Thilakaratne - Chief Executive Officer - Al Falaah, Lanka Orix Finance, Sri Lanka Mohamed Azmeer - Chief Executive Officer, Amana Bank
10:40 - 10:55
Keynote Address by Guest of Honour Dr Azeema Adam - Governor, Maldives Monetary Authority
10:55 - 11:25
Coffee and Networking
11:25 - 12:25
Advancing Sri Lanka’s Islamic Finance Industry: What Needs to Get Done As Sri Lanka continues to develop it’s Islamic finance market, market players and regulators must consider what crucial steps need to be taken to advance the industry and promote sustainable growth. Why have Shariah compliant transactions been few and far between? What can be done to collaborate with mature markets on cross border transactions? What legal, tax and regulatory frameworks need to exist in order to do so?
Outlook for Sukuk and other debt capital market transactions
Sector focus: Which Shariah compliant niche should Sri Lanka focus on?
Are Islamic windows commercially viable and how will they add value to the industry?
Initiatives in Sri Lanka’s Takaful industry
Update on legal, tax and regulatory changes encouraging Islamic finance transactions
What new products are in the pipeline to meet the needs of investors and borrowers in Sri Lanka?
Moderator:
Reyaz Jeffrey - Chief Executive Officer, Amana Takaful Life
Panelists:
Harith Harun - Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Maldives Islamic Bank Imruz Kamil - Head of Islamic Finance, Richard Peiris Finance Roshan Madawela - Director, Research Intelligence Unit Siddeeque Akbar - Vice President - Consumer Banking & Strategic Marketing, Amãna Bank Suresh R I Perera - Principal - Tax & Regulatory, KPMG Tyrone Hannan - Head - Global Transaction Banking, Deutsche Bank
12:25 - 13:20
Investors Roundtable: The Islamic Investment Landscape: Market Trends and Strategies for 2015
What will 2015 hold for Islamic investors and fund managers
Which asset classes are expected to outperform and why
Growth prospects for Islamic REITs and wealth management products
The changing face of the institutional investment market: Discussing investment strategies and product trends for 2015
Capitalizing on key advantages in the real estate and property sector
Outlook for i-ETFs, Shariah compliant mutual funds
Moderator:
Ariff Sultan - Regional Director (Asia), IdealRatings, Singapore
Panelists:
Fazly Marikar - Head of New Product Initiatives, Amãna Bank Ishrat Rauff - Managing Director/CEO, ADL Capital Dr Naveen Gunawardane - Managing Director, Amana Capital Ravi Abeysuriya - Director & Chief Executive Officer, Candor Group, Sri Lanka
