Mr. Paduma Subasinghe
Chief Human Resources Officer / Senior Vice President & Acting Head of Operations & Credit Administration DFCC Bank PLC, Sri Lanka
Paduma Subasinghe is a senior business and people leader with over 25 years of experience spanning banking, financial services, FMCG, telecommunications, manufacturing, and consulting across Sri Lanka and international markets. He currently serves as the Senior Vice President- Chief Human Resources Officer of DFCC Bank PLC, while also performing the functions of Acting Head of Operations and Credit Administration.
Recognized for his ability to drive business transformation through people, culture, and organizational excellence, Paduma has successfully led large-scale transformation initiatives, talent strategies, leadership development programs, and operational change across diverse industries. His experience combines strategic human capital leadership with enterprise-wide operational oversight, enabling him to contribute effectively to organizational growth, performance, and long-term sustainability.
Prior to joining DFCC Bank, he held senior leadership positions at Heineken Lanka, Global Rubber Industries, Browns Group, and Bharti Airtel. During his tenure at Heineken Lanka, he successfully completed two international short-term assignments in Singapore and India, gaining valuable exposure to regional business practices, leadership approaches, and multinational operations. Throughout his career, he has led cultural transformation, organizational restructuring, talent management, and business performance initiatives across local and international environments.
At DFCC Bank, he plays a pivotal role in aligning people strategy with the bank’s transformation agenda, driving leadership development, succession planning, digital HR initiatives, employee engagement, and operational excellence. His current responsibilities extend beyond human resources to include key operational functions, providing him with broad exposure to enterprise leadership and business management.
Paduma has received several international and regional recognitions, including being named among the Top 100 Global HR Professionals by the World HRD Congress and one of Sri Lanka’s Top 10 HR Leaders. He is also a recipient of multiple awards for HR leadership, employer branding, and organizational excellence.
With extensive cross-industry experience, a proven track record in transformation and people leadership, and increasing exposure to enterprise-wide operations, Paduma represents a new generation of strategic leaders capable of driving sustainable growth, organizational excellence, and long-term value creation.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) has been established as targeted, practitioner-led platforms to address critical development financing challenges across ADFIAP-member DFIs. Coordinated jointly by the Focal Team of Special Interest Groups (FT-SIG)—led by the Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (ARDB) of Cambodia and the ADFIAP Secretariat—the SIG initiative enables member banks to exchange evidence-based practices, diagnose institutional bottlenecks, and formulate joint action plans.
SIG 1: Integrated Financial Instruments and Guarantees
SIG 2: Sustainable Finance (Green and Climate Finance)
SIG 3: Sustainable Infrastructure
SIG 4: Digital Technology and Transformation
SIG 5: Affordable and Sustainable Housing
SIG 6: Agriculture and Food Security
Venue: TBA
Sri Lanka’s recent economic journey has been marked by significant challenges, but also by bold reforms, renewed investor confidence, and a growing commitment to sustainable, future‑ready finance.
SIS1 examines how the country is reshaping its financial landscape – strengthening institutions, modernizing regulatory frameworks, and accelerating digital and green finance initiatives – to build a more resilient and competitive economy. The discussion will highlight how Sri Lanka’s experience offers valuable insights for development finance institutions across the region: from managing crisis recovery and restoring stability to mobilizing private capital, expanding SME support, and fostering innovation through fintech and digital banking. It will also explore how Colombo’s strategic position and emerging financial capabilities create new opportunities for regional collaboration, investment, and knowledge exchange.
By spotlighting Sri Lanka’s transformation, this session invites delegates to view the host country not only through the lens of its challenges but also as a source of practical lessons, partnership potential, and shared regional opportunity.
Climate change demands urgent, coordinated action. This session will highlight innovative financing tools like blended finance, green bonds, and climate funds that enable institutions to expand climate-smart projects. It will feature partnerships promoting renewable energy adoption, sustainable agriculture, and circular economy initiatives. The discussion will emphasize how regional collaboration can unlock climate finance and secure fair transitions for vulnerable communities.
Digital technologies are reshaping how economies operate, creating new pathways for financial access, innovation, and competitiveness. This session examines how fintech partnerships, digital banking, and regional digital platforms can broaden inclusion – especially for underserved communities that remain outside the formal financial system. Strengthening cybersecurity, data governance, and digital literacy will be emphasized as essential foundations for trust in the digital economy. At the same time, the discussion will highlight how SMEs can use these digital tools to scale their operations, improve productivity, and connect with regional and global markets. Financing mechanisms, capacity-building programs, and market access initiatives will be showcased, along with the role of regional collaboration, trade agreements, and innovation hubs in accelerating SME growth. This session positions digital transformation as a catalyst for empowering SMEs and advancing more inclusive, sustainable economic development across the region
Prosperity must be inclusive to be sustainable. This discussion will highlight partnerships that ensure marginalized groups—such as women, youth, rural communities, and persons with disabilities—benefit from regional growth. It will showcase programs that promote financial inclusion, social protection, and equitable access to opportunities. The session will focus on how inclusive policies and collaborative efforts strengthen community resilience and foster shared prosperity.
