Sampath Bank leads discourse on Sri Lanka’s recovery in a shifting global economy

SRI Lanka’s fragile yet recovering economy was placed under the spotlight at the Sampath Bank Economic Forum 2025, held recently at Cinnamon Life, Colombo.

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Themed “Sri Lanka at the crossroads: Navigating trade turbulence, currency risk & the global reset”, organised exclusively for the bank’s trade, treasury, and corporate customers. The event reinforced Sampath Bank’s commitment to providing foresight and strategic guidance amidst global economic shifts, bringing together policymakers, economists, and corporate leaders to debate the country’s position in an increasingly uncertain global order.

Opening the discussion, Sampath Bank Chairman Harsha Amarasekera set the tone by warning that geopolitical realignments, volatile capital flows, and recalibrating financial markets are reshaping the very foundation of Sri Lanka’s growth model. “Trade turbulence, currency risk and the global reset are no longer abstract concepts,” he noted. “Each of these forces touches every business, every investor and every household in our country.”

Amarasekera urged stakeholders to look beyond defensive strategies, stressing that resilience in trade is now an imperative rather than an option. Traditional export markets are no longer guaranteed, he argued, and Sri Lanka must diversify, innovate, and move exports higher up the value chain. He also highlighted the necessity of managing currency exposure through hedging and deeper financial market reforms to anchor long-term stability.

The Chairman cautioned that the global reset, from energy transition to digitisation and shifting supply chain alliances, presents both risks and opportunities. Sri Lanka cannot afford to stand on the sidelines but must determine how and where it positions itself in this reordering of the global economy. “This is not an academic dialogue, it is a strategic conversation about our future,” he stressed, calling for collaboration across government, business, and finance to drive forward-thinking solutions.