Dr Alfred Hannig, Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), accompanied by Ms Nangsi Dema, Asian Regional Manager of AFI, visited the University of Kelaniya on 20th February 2026, and met with Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya at the Senate Room of the University.

The visit aimed at gaining insights into the best practices of the University’s Center for Financial Literacy and exploring opportunities for future collaboration.

The discussion was also attended by Professor Bandara Wanninayake, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies; Professor Ruwani Fernando, Head of the Department of Finance; and several faculty members of the Department of Finance. During the discussions, the Center’s initiatives, outreach programs, and impact-driven activities were presented to the visiting delegation.

The meeting concluded successfully, with Dr Hannig and Ms Dema expressing their appreciation for the Center’s impactful work in promoting financial literacy and financial inclusion. The delegation conveyed their willingness to extend support and explore avenues for collaboration to further strengthen financial literacy initiatives in Sri Lanka and beyond. 

AFI is a global network comprising 90 policymaking and regulatory institutions from 84 countries, committed to advancing financial inclusion by enabling the world’s unbanked population to access safe and affordable formal financial services through innovative and smart policy initiatives.

The University of Kelaniya looks forward to building a meaningful partnership with AFI to advance financial education, policy engagement, and inclusive finance initiatives in the region.