Events Banking and Finance Economy & Market

NDB Wealth Hosts Family Office Forum 2026 at Cinnamon Life Colombo

NDB Wealth successfully hosted its NDB Wealth Family Office Forum 2026 at Cinnamon Life Colombo, bringing together ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals, high-net-worth (HNW) families, family-owned businesses, and global strategists for a high-impact afternoon of dialogue on the future of private wealth. The forum featured four keynote addresses and expert-led panel discussions covering global macro trends, investment strategy, governance, and legacy planning, delivering timely insights for investors navigating an increasingly complex environment.

The forum opened with a welcome address by Mr. Senaka Kakiriwaragodage, CEO and Director of NDB Capital Holdings Limited, who underscored the importance of bringing global expertise and perspectives to Sri Lanka. He noted that the country’s wealth management landscape is rapidly evolving and highlighted the significance of platforms such as this forum in accelerating that progress. He affirmed that NDB Wealth is proud to play a leading role in shaping this journey.

The opening keynote was delivered by Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), who spoke on “Building Tomorrow’s Deep Tech Innovation Landscape.” He explored how deep tech-spanning healthcare, neuroscience, and advanced engineering is reshaping global economies, and emphasized the importance for long-term capital providers, including family offices, to engage early in innovation-led ecosystems to capture outsized value.

A key highlight of the forum was the Panel Discussion on Global Economic Outlook & Navigating the Geopolitical Situation. Mr. Thilan Wickramasinghe, Head of Research at Maybank Securities - Singapore, explored the key forces shaping global capital flows in 2026, including shifting interest rate cycles and geopolitical uncertainty. He identified ASEAN, India, and China as major capital destinations, and outlined how Sri Lanka could strategically position itself to capture these flows. Brendon Wong, Managing Director – Private Wealth at UOB Kay Hian (Hong Kong), drew a parallel between Hong Kong’s role as a corridor for China and the opportunity for Sri Lanka to serve a similar function in relation to India. Representing NDB Wealth’s investment team, Daham Hettiarachchi and Amaya Nagodavithana, Vice Presidents, examined tactical asset allocation shifts and currency risk considerations, emphasising disciplined allocation across fixed income, equities, and alternatives, alongside the importance of managing liquidity and investor behaviour during periods of volatility. The panel was moderated by Mr. Ruwan Perera, CEO of NDB Wealth.

Ahead of the second panel, Dr. Harinda Vidanage delivered a keynote on “Middle East Conflict Escalation & Global Implications.” He provided a strategic assessment of current geopolitical tensions and their implications for global markets, underscoring the importance for investors to incorporate geopolitical risk into their long-term planning.

The second panel focused on private markets, infrastructure, and energy transition The discussion featured Mr. Raman Ray Mandal, CEO of Greenback Capital, and Mr. Harshana Jayaweera, CEO of NDB Investment Bank, alongside Mr. Sam Manipadam, an expert in Ports, Free Zones, Logistics & Capital Governance, and Mr. Naresh Govindan, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Jupiter Energy Ventures. The panel was moderated by Mr. Savinda Fernando, VP at NDB Investment Bank. Panelists noted that family offices are becoming more selective in deploying capital, balancing direct investments, co-investments, and fund strategies. Infrastructure was positioned as a long-term asset class offering stable returns, while ESG and energy transition were highlighted as critical considerations in managing both risk and opportunity. Structuring investments with clear exit pathways was identified as essential, particularly in emerging markets.

Ahead of the final sessions, Mr. Sunil Jose delivered a keynote on “Family Office Structures and Governance: Building Enduring Wealth Across Generations.” He emphasised the importance of institutional-grade governance frameworks, robust structuring, and disciplined processes in preserving wealth, and illustrated how well-designed family office platforms can ensure continuity, control, and alignment across generations.

In addition, Arnis Celitāns delivered a keynote on “Unlocking European Markets: Investment Opportunities and Strategic Partnerships.” He highlighted Latvia’s position as a gateway to the European Union, outlining how Sri Lankan businesses could access European markets for trade partnerships and capital, while encouraging family offices to consider Europe as a strategic diversification avenue.

The final sessions examined the evolution of family offices, with a strong focus on governance, structuring, and intergenerational wealth transfer. The panel featured Mr. Sunil Jose, Managing Partner of Kernal Multi Family Office (UAE), Mrs. Thanuja Nair, and Mr. R. Narayanmohan, Founder of NS Global Consultants (Singapore), in person, alongside Mr. Haruhito Imakoji, Co-Founder & CEO of Salzworth Asset Management, and Mr. Abishek Gujadhur, Managing Director of Spearfin Ltd (Mauritius), with moderation by Ms. Preetha S. Kumar. Panelists underscored the importance of building institutional-grade frameworks while preserving family values and highlighted the growing role of professional management in scaling investment strategies increasing role of professional management in scaling investment strategies.

As Sri Lanka’s largest asset manager, with over LKR 340 billion in assets under management, NDB Wealth continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s wealth management landscape. Beyond the sessions themselves, the forum served a broader purpose: building awareness around the critical importance of succession planning and the intergenerational transition of wealth, while introducing the family office model as a structured, institutional approach to preserving, growing, and transferring wealth in an increasingly complex global environment.

Succession planning and next generation engagement emerged as key priorities, with increasing emphasis on education, stewardship, and preparing future leaders to manage wealth responsibly. The integration of philanthropy into overall family office strategy was also highlighted as a growing trend among globally aligned families.

Concluding the event, Ruwan Perera, CEO of NDB Wealth, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing appreciation to the panelists, speakers, and participants for their valuable contributions in making the forum a meaningful and impactful platform for knowledge sharing and engagement. He highlighted that NDB Wealth’s primary objective is to help its clients not only protect wealth from market volatility and external shocks but also build a resilient and enduring legacy that reflects both financial strength and purpose.

Through this forum, NDB Wealth reaffirmed its commitment to providing forward-looking insights and advisory-led solutions, supporting clients in not only growing wealth, but preserving and transitioning it across generations.

NDB Wealth Management Limited is a subsidiary of NDB Capital Holdings, one of the fastest-growing financial services conglomerates in Sri Lanka, with the strategic mission to be the leader in the financial services sector. From its inception, the group which includes NDB Wealth, NDB Investment Bank, NDB Securities, and NDB Zephyr Limited has been a catalyst in the development of the nation, strengthening and empowering entrepreneurs, corporates, and individuals from all strata of the economy. Customers across all NDB Capital Holdings Group companies benefit from the extensive product and service offerings of its affiliates.

Caption for up image – Ruwan Perera - CEO - NDB Wealth Management Limited