Professional Bankers association confers this year’s “Outstanding Contributions to the Banking Industry’ Award on A. Sarath de Silva
View(s):
A. Sarath de Silva is seen here receiving the award from Arjuna Mahendran, Central Bank Governor, in the presence of Deepal Abeysekara - President, Association of Professional Bankers - Sri Lanka.
The Association of Professional Bankers – Sri Lanka (APB) conferred this year’s “Outstanding Contributions to the Banking Industry’ Award to A. Sarath de Silva, the former General Manager/CEO of the Bank of Ceylon, at their 27th Anniversary Convention held recently at the Cinnamon Grand, Colombo.
Each year, the APB considers making an award at its annual convention for ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Banking Industry’. The criteria for selection are the significant voluntary contributions made by him for the benefit of the banking industry as a whole, which could be recognized in the industry as outstanding, rather than to one or few institutions.
A veteran and versatile banker, a true professional, Mr. Sarath de Silva is a product of Royal College, Colombo where he had a very distinguished school record winning several prizes, he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Sri Jayawardhanapura. He joined Bank of Ceylon, the biggest bank in Sri lanka, as a young staff officer and had an illustrious career in the bank ending up as its General Manager / Chief Executive Officer. His expertise ranged from Branch Banking to Corporate Banking and he was a specialist in Development Banking.
A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, London he was also conferred a Fellowship by the Institute of Bankers, Sri Lanka. In 2006, he was awarded the prestigious “Life Time Award” by the Association of Chartered Bankers of Sri Lanka Trust – Colombo the Local Centre of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, London in recognition of his distinguished contribution in the field of banking and in the activities of the Colombo Centre.
It was on his initiative that bankers in Sri Lanka ventured into lending to SMES and thereafter move into micro-finance.
After retirement he has held positions including Chairman – Lankaputhra Development Bank, Chairman – Sri Jayawardenapura General Hospital and Chairman – State Pharmaceutical Corporation.