Agenda
Full Program Overview
Stay informed about what’s coming up at the Sri Lanka Fintech Summit 2025. Explore our detailed agenda, featuring keynote sessions, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and more — all designed to inspire and connect industry leaders.
Program Schedule
September 24-25, 2025 | BMICH, Colombo
24 Sep
25 Sep
Opening Remarks
Opening Ceremony & Traditional Lighting of Oil Lamp
Opening Remarks
Empowering Sri Lanka’s Digital Finance Future
Damith Pallewatte
MD/CEO, Hatton National Bank
Sri Lanka
Keynote
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
Digital Sri Lanka 2030: National Digital Roadmap
Dr. Hans Wijesuriya
Chief Presidential Advisor, Digital Economy
Sri Lanka
Keynote
Future of Finance
Central Banking in the Digital Age
Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe
Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Panel Discussion
Investment, Startups & Ecosystem Growth
Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Framework
Hon. (Eng.) Eranga Weeraratne
Deputy Minister, Ministry of Digital Economy
Sri Lanka
Deputy Minister
Deputy Minister, Ministry of Finance
Sri Lanka
Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe
Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Damith Pallewatte
Managing Director & CEO, Hatton National Bank
Sri Lanka
Dr. Hans Wijesuriya
Presidential Advisor, Digital Economy
Sri Lanka
Moderator
Channa De Silva
President, Fintech Forum of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Keynote
Global & Regional Trends
Building Asia’s Digital Finance Hub: Lessons from Singapore
Ravi Menon
Managing Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Singapore
Networking Coffee Break
Keynote
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
Digital Financial Inclusion: The Sri Lankan Vision
Leora Klapper
World Bank
Tilman Ehrbeck
CGAP
Keynote
Investment, Startups & Ecosystem Growth
Building Resilient Payment Ecosystems
Sopnendu Mohanty
Group Chief Executive Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Singapore
UPI India Representative
Keynote
Regulatory Compliance
Regulatory Innovation for Emerging Markets
Matthew Davie
Dubai Financial Services Authority
Bank Negara Malaysia Representative
Round-Table
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
Banking Beyond 2030: The CEO’s Roadmap for a digitally enabled economy in Sri Lanka
Key Discussions
- Vision 2030 for Digital Banking – Redefining banking models to meet evolving customer needs and expectations.
- Next-Gen Technologies – Harnessing AI, blockchain, and IoT to deliver smarter, more personalized financial services.
- Financial Inclusion at Scale – Expanding access to underserved and rural communities through innovative solutions.
- Digital Payments Ecosystem – Building seamless, cashless, and interoperable payment systems nationwide.
- Cybersecurity & Data Privacy – Strengthening security frameworks and fostering trust in an increasingly digital landscape.
- Regulatory Evolution – Developing forward-thinking policies that enable innovation while safeguarding consumers.
Boardroom Roundtable Chair
Panel Discussion
Future of Finance
Setting the Digital Finance Agenda: Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration
Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe
Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Dr. Hans Wijesuriya
Chief Presidential Advisor, Digital Economy
Sri Lanka
Ravi Menon
Managing Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Singapore
PayHere/eZ Cash
CEO, Local FinTech Leadership
Sri Lanka
Moderator
Chanda Kochhar
Former CEO, ICICI Bank
Panel Discussion
Future of Finance
Infrastructure Development: Building the Digital Backbone
LankaPay
CEO, National Payment Network
Dialog/Mobitel Representatives
Telecommunications Infrastructure
International Infrastructure Expert
Global Best Practices
ICTA Representative
Information Technology Authority
Moderator
Technology Infrastructure Expert
Panel Discussion
Investment, Startups & Ecosystem Growth
Local Innovation Ecosystem: Challenges & Opportunities
Export Development Board Representative
Government Trade Promotion
Sri Lankan FinTech Founders
Local Innovation Leaders
Angel Investor/VC Representative
Investment Community
University Research Head
Academic and R&D Sector
Moderator
Venture Capital and Startup Ecosystem Expert
Networking Lunch
Round-Table
Investment, Startups & Ecosystem Growth
Digital Payment Ecosystems: Building Interoperable Infrastructure
Kamal Hemmige
Local Payment Innovation Leader
Sri Lanka
Pawit Mahasaranond
Regional Payment Systems Expert
Thailand
Kosta Peric
Emerging Markets Payment Specialist
Kenya
Ritesh Shukla
Cross-border Payment Innovation
Singapore
Moderator
David Marcus
Former Head of Calibra, Novi, Meta
Fireside Chat
Blockchain, AI & Cryptocurrency
Blockchain & DLT Applications
Dr. Andreas Antonopoulos
Blockchain Expert
Sheila Warren
Crypto Council for Innovation
Radhika Iyengar
MIT Digital Currency Initiative
Fireside Chat
Blockchain, AI & Cryptocurrency
AI & Machine Learning in Finance
Dr. Daphne Kolle
Co-founder, Insitro
Jai Das
Managing Director, Sapphire Ventures
Dr. Sameera Poduri
Google AI
Fireside Chat
Regulatory Compliance
Regulatory Sandbox Excellence
Ravi Menon
Managing Director, MAS
Thomas Moser
Swiss National Bank
Dr. Nesreen El-Saharty
World Bank
Panel Discussion
Regulatory Compliance
RegTech Innovation
Julie Chariell
CEO, Hurricane Labs
Suresh Vaghjiani
Former Standard Chartered
Dr. Joseph Lubin
ConsenSys
Round-Table
Future of Finance
Financial Inclusion, Rural Empowerment & the Journey to a Cashless Economy
Key Discussions
- Strategic Roadmap for 2030 – Clear objectives to position Sri Lanka in the global FinTech landscape.
- Inclusive Access – Expanding affordable financial services to rural and underserved communities.
- Cashless Transition – Practical steps for nationwide adoption of digital payment methods.
- Policy & Regulation – Enabling frameworks for innovation, compliance, and consumer protection.
- Infrastructure & Collaboration – Building robust digital payment systems through multi-sector partnerships.
- Security & Trust – Safeguarding transactions and strengthening public confidence in digital finance.
Boardroom Roundtable Chair
Round-Table
Blockchain, AI & Cryptocurrency
Cross-Border Payments Innovation
Dilhan Fernando
Dilmah Tea, Trade Perspective
Marcus Treacher
Ripple
Joyce Chang
JPMorgan
Round-Table
Regulatory Compliance
Central Bank Digital Currencies
Dr. Agustín Carstens
Bank for International Settlements
Dr. Eswar Prasad
Cornell University
Jerome Powell
Virtual participation, Federal Reserve
Round-Table
Regulatory Compliance
Data Protection & Privacy
Ann Cavoukian
Privacy by Design
Brad Smith
Microsoft
Margrethe Vestager
Virtual participation, European Union
Networking Break
Round-Table
Investment, Startups & Ecosystem Growth
Digital Payments Ecosystem
Kamal Hemmige
Sri Lanka
Pawit Mahasaranond
Thailand
Kosta Peric
Kenya
Ritesh Shukla
Singapore
Moderator
David Marcus
Panel Discussion
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
Microfinance Digital Transformation
Alex Lazarow
Cathay Innovation
Rafe Mazer
CGAP/World Bank
Kirti Singh
Ananya Finance
Fireside Chat
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
InsurTech Revolution
Daniel Schreiber
CEO, Lemonade
Sabine VanderLinden
CEO, Ombea
Peter Hancock
CEO, Former AIG
Panel Discussion
Investment, Startups & Ecosystem Growth
Building Sri Lanka’s FinTech Investment Ecosystem
Dushan Priyankara
Investment Community
Sri Lanka
Brad Feld
Co-founder, Techstars
Linda Rottenberg
CEO, Endeavor
Rashmi Kwatra
Lightspeed Ventures
Moderator
Rebecca Lynn
Canvas Ventures
Round-Table
Blockchain, AI & Cryptocurrency
Regulatory Innovation: Regulatory Sandbox 2.0: Fast-Track Innovation Framework
Key Discussions
- Evolution from Sandbox 1.0 to Sandbox 2.0: Lessons Learned in Sri Lanka
- Accelerating FinTech Innovation through Fast-Track Regulatory Approvals
- Balancing Consumer Protection with Innovation in Regulatory Frameworks
- Integrating Emerging Technologies: AI, Blockchain, and Digital Payments in Sandbox 2.0
- Collaboration between Regulators, FinTech Startups, and Financial Institutions
Boardroom Roundtable Chair
Round-Table
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
Rural Banking & Last Mile Finance
Dr. Muhammad Yunus
Virtual participation, Nobel Laureate
Alex Count
Grameen America
Preeti Sinha
SEWA
Round-Table
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
Wealth Management Democratization
Baiju Bhatt
Co-founder, Robinhood
Jennifer Barrett
Acorns
Natasha Madre
Wealthfront
Round-Table
Investment, Startups & Ecosystem Growth
Corporate Innovation Labs
Matthew Harris
Bain Capital Ventures
Shantanu Narayen
CEO, Adobe
Arvind Krishna
CEO, IBM
Panel Discussion
Global & Regional Trends
Sustainable Finance & Regional Integration: ESG-driven SAARC Cooperation
Dr. Srinath Raghavan
Centre for Policy Research
Dr. Rachel Kyte
Dean, Fletcher School, Tufts University
Vikram Mehta
Brookings India
India
Rhian-Mari Thomas
Green Finance Institute
Moderator
Mark Carney
Former Governor, Bank of England & Bank of Canada
Panel Discussion
Blockchain, AI & Cryptocurrency
Cybersecurity in FinTech: Protecting the Digital Finance Ecosystem
Ethical Hacker and Penetration Testing Expert
Risk Management and Compliance Consultant
Moderator
Chief Information Security Officer
Financial Services Expert
Fireside Chat
Investment, Startups & Ecosystem Growth
Bank-FinTech Partnerships
Moderator
International Partnership and Collaboration Expert
Panel Discussion
Investment, Startups & Ecosystem Growth
Government-Industry Collaboration
Ministry of Finance Representative
Industry Association Leader
Policy Development Expert
Celebration Dinner & Cultural Program
Keynote
Future of Finance
The Future of Money: Digital Transformation in Finance
Shailesh Kumar Shukla
CTO, Paytm
Dan Schulman
Former CEO, PayPal
Keynote
Blockchain, AI & Cryptocurrency
AI and Machine Learning in Financial Services
Dr. Fei-Fei Li
Stanford AI Institute
DJ Patil
Former U.S. Chief Data Scientist
Keynote
Regulatory Compliance
Sustainable Finance and ESG Integration
Mark Carney
Former Governor, Bank of England
Dr. Rachel Kyte
Dean, Fletcher School, Tufts University
Round-Table
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
Harnessing Digital Assets and CBDCs: Opportunities and Challenges for Modern Monetary Systems (AI & Blockchain) AI Taskforce
Key Discussions
- Understanding Digital Assets and CBDCs : Key concepts, differences, and global adoption trends.
- Regulatory and Legal Challenges : Frameworks needed to balance innovation, security, and compliance.
- Monetary Policy and Financial Stability : Impacts on central bank control, money supply, and systemic risks.
- Technological Infrastructure and Security : Blockchain/DLT use, cybersecurity, and privacy considerations.
- Financial Inclusion and Economic Opportunities : How digital currencies can expand access and drive innovation.
Boardroom Roundtable Chair
Panel Discussion
Global & Regional Trends
FinTech Champions: Regional Success Stories
Charith Perera
Local FinTech Innovation Leader
Sri Lanka
Shameran Abed
Regional Expansion Expert
Bangladesh
Anthony Agustin
Digital Payment Pioneer
Philippines
Kowit Chachavanij
Financial Inclusion Advocate
Indonesia
Moderator
Tanvi Gupta
Financial Times Asia
Panel Discussion
Investment, Startups & Ecosystem Growth
Investment Landscape & Market Opportunities
Rishad Premji
Executive Chairman, Wipro
Ravi Adusumalli
Managing Partner, Elevation Capital
Local VC Representative
Sri Lankan Investment Community
Angel Investor
Early-stage Investment Specialist
Moderator
Venture Capital and Investment Expert
Panel Discussion
Investment, Startups & Ecosystem Growth
Building Tomorrow’s FinTech Workforce
Prof. Malik Ranasinghe
University of Colombo
Sri Lanka
Tan Chong Lee
Singapore FinTech Education Leader
Singapore
HR Leaders
Financial Services Industry
Training Institute Heads
Professional Development Organizations
Moderator
Dr. Devi Shetty
Chairman, Narayana Health
Keynote
Regulatory Compliance
Real-Time Gross Settlement: Modernizing Sri Lanka’s Payment Backbone
Dr. Agustín Carstens
General Manager, Bank for International Settlements
Jerome Powell
Chairman, Federal Reserve
Virtual participation
Keynote
Blockchain, AI & Cryptocurrency
Cross-Border Payments Innovation
Marcus Treacher
Chief Revenue Officer, Ripple
Joyce Chang
Chair of Global Research, JPMorgan
Keynote
Regulatory Compliance
Cybersecurity in the Digital Finance Era
Chief Information Security Officer
Cybersecurity Expert, Major Financial Institution
Networking Coffee Break
Panel Discussion
Future of Finance
Digital Transformation Roadmaps: Implementation Strategies
Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon
Digital Transformation Leader
Sri Lanka
Janet Young
Financial Services Innovation Expert
UAE
Dennis Gada
FinTech Implementation Specialist
USA
Maria Loyez
Digital Banking Pioneer
Canada
Moderator
Dr. Michael Wade
Professor of Innovation and Strategy, IMD Business School
Panel Discussion
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
Open Banking & API Economy
Sujatha Ratnakar
Open Banking Implementation Leader
Sri Lanka
Imran Gulamhuseinwala
Former Head of Open Banking Implementation
UK
Kosta Peric
Former Head of Digital Financial Services, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Varun Mittal
Stack and Digital Public Infrastructure Expert
India
Moderator
Dave Birch
Digital Finance and Identity Expert
Panel Discussion
Regulatory Compliance
RegTech & Compliance Innovation
Tom Butler
CEO, Encompass Corporation
Dr. Douglas Arner
Professor of Law, University of Hong Kong
Kayvan Alikhani
Senior Director, Thomson Reuters
Local Compliance Head
Sri Lankan Financial Institution
Moderator
Regulatory Technology and Compliance Expert
Round-Table
Global & Regional Trends
Market Access via International Partnership Agreements: Accelerating Sri Lanka’s Immediate Market Entry and Investment Opportunities
Key Discussions
- Measuring Impact: Success Metrics and Future Roadmap for Regulatory Innovation in Sri Lanka
- Government Support & Investment Promotion : Role of agencies like Board of Investment (BOI) Sri Lanka in facilitating partnerships and easing procedures.
- Regulatory Navigation & Compliance in Target Markets : Understanding foreign legal frameworks and aligning Sri Lankan business operations accordingly.
- Sri Lanka’s Strategic Sectors for FDI and Partnerships : Understanding foreign legal frameworks and aligning Sri Lankan business operations accordingly.
- Cultural & Business Practices Adaptation : Addressing differences in business culture, negotiation styles, and operational norms to ensure smooth partnerships.
- Risk Mitigation for Sri Lankan Investors Abroad : Assessing political, economic, and currency risks, plus mechanisms to safeguard overseas investments.
Boardroom Roundtable Chair
Keynote
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
Financial Inclusion: Technology for the Underserved
Dr. Muhammad Yunus
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Virtual participation
Alex Count
President & CEO, Grameen America
Keynote
Blockchain, AI & Cryptocurrency
Blockchain and DLT Applications in Finance
Dr. Andreas Antonopoulos
Blockchain Technology Expert
Sheila Warren
CEO, Crypto Council for Innovation
Keynote
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
InsurTech Revolution: AI-Driven Insurance
Daniel Schreiber
CEO, Lemonade
Peter Hancock
Former CEO, AIG
Networking Lunch
Panel Discussion
Global & Regional Trends
Global FinTech Trends: Lessons for Sri Lanka’s Digital Economy
Singapore Representative
Monetary Authority of Singapore or FinTech Leader
UAE Representative
Dubai International Financial Centre or Emirates NBD Innovation
Estonia Representative
Digital Government and e-Residency Program Leader
Brazil Representative
PIX Payment System or Digital Banking Innovation
Moderator
International FinTech Market Analyst and Research Expert
Round-Table
Blockchain, AI & Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency & Digital Assets: Regulatory Framework Workshop
Blockchain Regulation Experts
Central Bank Digital Currency Specialists
Digital Asset Policy Developers
Round-Table
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
InsurTech & Financial Resilience: Innovation for Inclusion
Insurance Innovation Experts
Microinsurance Specialists
Financial Inclusion Technology Developers
Round-Table
Investment, Startups & Ecosystem Growth
Strengthening Sri Lanka’s FinTech Ecosystem: Cybersecurity Challenges and Solutions for a Trusted Digital Economy
Key Discussions
- Current Cyber Threat Landscape in Sri Lanka’s FinTech Sector : Overview of prevalent cyber threats targeting local FinTech firms and financial institutions.
- Regulatory Compliance and Data Protection : Understanding Sri Lanka’s cybersecurity laws and frameworks (e.g., Data Protection Act, ICTA guidelines).
Aligning with global standards such as PCI DSS and GDPR for cross-border operations.
- Building Cyber Resilience Through Technology : Adoption of advanced technologies like AI-driven threat detection, encryption, and blockchain security.
- Cybersecurity Awareness and Workforce Development : Training and capacity building for FinTech employees and stakeholders to mitigate human-related risks.
- Collaboration Between Government, Industry, and Academia : Creating public-private partnerships to share threat intelligence and develop best practices.
Boardroom Roundtable Chair
Keynote
Blockchain, AI & Cryptocurrency
Web3 and Decentralized Finance: Opportunities for Emerging Markets
Leading DeFi Expert / Ethereum Foundation Representative / Web3 Innovation Pioneer
Keynote
Blockchain, AI & Cryptocurrency
AI-Powered Financial Inclusion: Reaching the Unbanked
AI Ethics Expert / Financial Inclusion Technology Specialist / Machine Learning for Social Good Advocate
Keynote
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
Global InsurTech Innovations: Digital Insurance for All
InsurTech CEO / Insurance Innovation Expert / Digital Insurance Pioneer
Networking Coffee Break
Round-Table
Blockchain, AI & Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency Trading Platforms & Digital Wallets Showcase
Local and International Cryptocurrency Companies
Digital Wallet Providers
Blockchain Infrastructure Companies
Round-Table
Blockchain, AI & Cryptocurrency
AI-Driven Financial Services Demonstration
AI FinTech Companies
Bank Innovation Labs
Machine Learning Platform Providers
Round-Table
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
InsurTech Solutions for Emerging Markets
Insurance Technology Startups
Traditional Insurers with Digital Products
Microinsurance Platform Providers
Round-Table
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
Talent & Innovation: Building Sri Lanka’s FinTech Future Through a $50M Skills Development Initiative
Key Discussions
- Current Landscape of FinTech Talent in Sri Lanka
- Designing Industry-Relevant Curriculum for Emerging FinTech Skills
- Public-Private Partnerships for Effective Skills Development
- Bridging the Gap: From Education to Employment in the FinTech Sector
- Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship through Talent Empowerment
- Leveraging Global Networks and Diaspora to Enhance Local FinTech Talent
Boardroom Roundtable Chair
Panel Discussion
Future of Finance
Building Financial Resilience: Technology for Economic Stability
Central Banker
Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Authority
Microfinance Institution Head
Financial Inclusion Implementation Leader
Financial Inclusion Researcher
Academic and Policy Research Expert
FinTech Entrepreneur
Innovation and Technology Implementation Pioneer
Moderator
Economic Development and Financial Stability Expert
Panel Discussion
Blockchain, AI & Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency Ecosystem Development in Sri Lanka
Cryptocurrency Exchange CEO
Local and Regional Market Leader
Blockchain Developer
Technical Implementation and Infrastructure Expert
Regulatory Representative
Central Bank or Financial Regulatory Authority
Institutional Investor
Traditional Finance and Digital Asset Investment Expert
Moderator
Blockchain Industry Expert and Cryptocurrency Market Analyst
Panel Discussion
Financial Innovation & Inclusion
Financial Wellness & Inclusion: Beyond Banking
InsurTech Founder
Insurance Innovation and Risk Management Expert
Financial Wellness Application Creator
Digital Financial Health Platform Developer
Microfinance Expert
Community-Based Financial Services Leader
Rural Development Specialist
Agricultural Finance and Rural Economy Expert
Moderator
Financial Inclusion Advocate and Social Impact Expert
Summit Highlights & Major Achievements
Dr. Hans Wijesuriya
Chief Presidential Advisor, Digital Economy
Sri Lanka
Damith Pallewatte
MD/CEO, Hatton National Bank
Sri Lanka
Sopnendu Mohanty
Group Chief Executive Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore
Singapore
Vote of Thanks & Official Summit Conclusion
Dr. Kumudu Megasooriya
Founder & Managing Director, TECXA Limited
United Kingdom & Sri Lanka
Themes to explore
Discover how digital transformation is reshaping banking, neobanks, embedded finance, and customer-centric financial services.
Explore worldwide FinTech trends and their impact on Sri Lanka’s evolving financial ecosystem and regulatory landscape.
Examine how blockchain, AI, and crypto are driving innovation, security, and transparency in financial services.
Uncover solutions in insurance, microfinance, and startups that promote access, inclusion, and economic resilience.
Understand digital regulations, identity frameworks, AML/KYC, and balancing FinTech growth with compliance and consumer protection.
Learn how venture capital, partnerships, and ecosystem development drive FinTech innovation and startup scalability in Sri Lanka.
