The International Workshop on Trade Finance was successfully co-organized by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Sri Lanka, in strategic collaboration with the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI). The International Workshop was held on 12 May 2026 at Kingsbury, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The workshop brought together 107 key industry participants, including senior executives and officials from Sri Lankan commercial banks, logistics providers, and leading import-export enterprises. The primary goal was to equip local businesses with advanced mechanisms to navigate the complex world of international trade transactions.

Opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Johnny Fernando, Chairman of ICC Sri Lanka, who highlighted the critical nature of standardizing financial practices to minimize international transactional risks. The event also featured Dr. Viruli De Silva, a renowned banking sector expert, who participated as a special guest.

The full-day sessions at the International Workshop were facilitated and moderated by Mr. Tilan M. Wijesooriya, the Secretary-General (Actg.) of FCCISL and Associate Director of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The initiative was built upon a strategic concept envisioned by Mr. Keerthi Gunawardane, President of FCCISL.

All technical sessions throughout the International Workshop were led by Mr. Pavel Andrle, the Secretary of the Banking Commission for the ICC Czech Republic. As an eminent international trade specialist, Mr. Pavel provided the audience with comprehensive operational insights, combining theoretical compliance with real-world applications.

Mr. Pavel focused on debated areas of global compliance and documentation, including:

• Incoterms 2020: Analyzing their direct operational impact on documentary credits and identifying frequent practical issues.
• ICC Frameworks (UCP 600 & ISBP 821): Breaking down standard banking practices and official ICC Opinions used to clear technical disputes.
• ISBP Revisions: Reviewing upcoming structural changes to the International Standard Banking Practice.
• Case Studies: Walking participants through real-world global trade disputes, failures, and resolution strategies.

This collaborative workshop represents a proactive step toward fortifying Sri Lanka's trade infrastructure. By aligning local banks and logistics firms with modern ICC standards, the organizers aim to increase transaction transparency, reduce shipment delays, and strengthen the overall global competitiveness of Sri Lankan businesses.