The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) successfully hosted its inaugural Reserve Management Conference on 10 -11 September 2026 at The Kingsbury, Colombo. This distinguished gathering brought together leading central bankers, sovereign asset managers, policymakers, economists and investment professionals to exchange perspectives on the evolving global challenges and opportunities shaping official reserve management. Approximately 50 speakers and participants joined the conference, representing institutions including 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 World Gold Council.
The conference addressed a broad range of issues shaping the future of reserve management. Key areas of discussion included strategies for building and strengthening foreign reserve buffers; the implications of geopolitical fragmentation for Asia and the global economy; the evolving role of digital and tokenised assets in official reserves; currency power and the continued prominence of the US dollar in international reserve portfolios; and the role of gold and other alternative assets. Participants also explored how technological innovation and artificial intelligence could support reserve management through enhanced investment decision-making, market intelligence, portfolio optimisation and risk management.
The keynote address was delivered by the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, on “Challenges in Building Foreign Reserves Amidst Geopolitical Uncertainties.” The Governor emphasised that reserve accumulation cannot be considered in isolation from the broader macroeconomic policy framework, noting that sustainable reserve accumulation must be underpinned by sound external-sector fundamentals and an economy capable of generating and retaining foreign exchange. Drawing on Sri Lanka’s experience during the 2022 economic crisis, the Governor highlighted the critical role of international reserves as a first line of defense against external shocks, providing countries with valuable time and policy space during periods of heightened vulnerability. The Governor further noted that geopolitical developments have become an increasingly important consideration for reserve managers, with fragmentation, sanctions, trade tensions and disruptions to global financial markets influencing investment, liquidity and portfolio management decisions.
A Special Guest Address was delivered by Mr. Domenico Nardelli, Treasurer of the AIIB, who shared his perspectives on the evolving international financial landscape and its implications for reserve and asset management.
Over the two days, expert presentations and panel discussions facilitated in-depth dialogue on emerging developments and strategic issues in reserve management. The conference provided an opportunity to draw on diverse international experiences, share lessons and innovative approaches, and strengthen professional networks among central banks, international financial institutions and market participants.
The inaugural Reserve Management Conference marked an important milestone in CBSL’s engagement with the global central banking community with an emphasis on international reserve management arena. By convening leading practitioners and experts from across the global financial system, the conference provided a timely forum to consider the changing nature of reserve management and the importance of remaining agile, forward-looking and resilient in an increasingly complex and uncertain global environment.
