Colombo, Sri Lanka – 16 September 2026 – The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) successfully hosted its inaugural Reserve Management Conference in Colombo, bringing together a distinguished assembly of global financial leaders and experts. Held from 10-11 September 2026 at The Kingsbury, Colombo, the event served as a critical forum for exchanging perspectives on the evolving challenges and opportunities shaping official reserve management in a complex global landscape.
Approximately 50 speakers and participants from leading central banks, sovereign asset managers, policymakers, economists, and investment professionals attended the two-day conference. Esteemed institutions represented included the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Asian Development Bank, Banque de France, Bank for International Settlements, Bank Indonesia, Bank Negara Malaysia, Bank of Korea, Bank of Thailand, Inter-American Development Bank, Reserve Bank of India, Swiss National Bank, World Bank, and the World Gold Council.
Key Discussions on the Future of Reserve Management
The conference delved into a broad spectrum of issues pertinent to the future of managing foreign exchange reserves. Key areas of discussion included:
- Strategies for building and strengthening foreign reserve buffers to enhance economic resilience.
- The implications of escalating geopolitical fragmentation on Asia and the broader global economy.
- The evolving role and potential integration of digital and tokenised assets into official reserve portfolios.
- An examination of currency power dynamics and the enduring prominence of the US dollar in international reserve portfolios.
- The strategic role of gold and other alternative assets in diversifying and securing official reserves.
- Exploration of how technological innovation and artificial intelligence can bolster reserve management through enhanced investment decision-making, market intelligence, portfolio optimisation, and risk management.
Governor Weerasinghe’s Keynote Address
The keynote address, titled “Challenges in Building Foreign Reserves Amidst Geopolitical Uncertainties,” was delivered by the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe. Governor Weerasinghe underscored that the accumulation of international reserves must be viewed as an integral part of a comprehensive macroeconomic policy framework, necessitating sound external-sector fundamentals and an economy robust enough to generate and retain foreign exchange.
Drawing insights from Sri Lanka’s experience during the 2022 economic crisis, the Governor emphasised the indispensable role of international reserves as a primary defence against external shocks. He highlighted their ability to provide countries with crucial time and policy space during periods of heightened vulnerability. Furthermore, Dr. Weerasinghe noted that geopolitical developments have become an increasingly vital consideration for reserve managers, with fragmentation, sanctions, trade tensions, and disruptions to global financial markets significantly influencing investment, liquidity, and portfolio management decisions.
Special Guest Address and International Collaboration
A Special Guest Address was delivered by Mr. Domenico Nardelli, Treasurer of the AIIB, who shared valuable perspectives on the evolving international financial landscape and its profound implications for reserve and asset management globally.
Throughout the two-day event, expert presentations and engaging panel discussions facilitated in-depth dialogue on emerging developments and strategic issues within the domain of reserve management. The conference provided an invaluable opportunity for participants to draw upon diverse international experiences, share lessons learned, explore innovative approaches, and strengthen professional networks among central banks, international financial institutions, and market participants.
A Milestone for CBSL and Global Reserve Management
The inaugural Reserve Management Conference marks an important milestone in the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s engagement with the global central banking community, particularly within the international reserve management arena. By convening leading practitioners and experts from across the global financial system, the conference offered a timely forum to critically consider the changing nature of reserve management and underscored the paramount importance of remaining agile, forward-looking, and resilient in an increasingly complex and uncertain global environment.
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