BNI Sri Lanka’s flagship event – the BNI National Conference 2025 – was successfully held on the 18th at the Cinnamon Grand, Colombo, with the enthusiastic participation of over 250 members representing 16 chapters across Sri Lanka and 160 international participants from BNI chapters in India, Japan, Bahrain, and Taiwan.
The full-day conference provided an engaging platform for networking and fellowship, connecting more than 400 entrepreneurs, professionals, and industry leaders for targeted referral opportunities. Attendees took part in structured high-speed meetings, gained insights from expert speakers on business trends and leadership, and explored avenues for collaboration and joint ventures. The event also recognised outstanding achievements and offered both regional and international exposure, fostering cross-chapter relationships among BNI members.
The morning session featured a structured speed networking event, where members had the opportunity to introduce themselves and their businesses in a dynamic, walk-around format. This was followed by breakout sessions hosted by leading international speakers including Hemu Suvarna, President of BNI India and visionary leader; Santhosh Radhakrishnan, District Director of BNI India and performance coach; and Murali Sundaram, author, publisher, and internationally renowned happiness coach. These sessions provided valuable insights and inspiration to participants.
The evening session opened with a vibrant and meticulously planned curtain raiser, followed by a welcome address by Glenn Lord, Country Manager of BNI Sri Lanka.
“We warmly welcome members from BNI chapters across Sri Lanka as well as those representing BNI’s overseas chapters. It is a privilege to host our 2025 National Conference with such overwhelming participation and support. This is a testament to the trust and value that BNI continues to offer to our members—primarily entrepreneurs and business owners,” said Glenn Lord.
“BNI’s unique engagement model, an exclusive member-driven platform for business networking, offers unparalleled value to entrepreneurs and business owners, enabling them to grow their businesses through our proven ‘Givers Gain’ philosophy,” he added.
Keynote addresses were then delivered by visually impaired fashion designer, motivational speaker, and founder of Christina Glory – Ashcharya Peiris; visionary corporate leader, public speaker, and mentor – Kishu Gomes; and happiness coach Murali Sundaram. Peiris shared her story of resilience in overcoming challenges, Gomes discussed the pressing challenges facing Sri Lankan entrepreneurs, and Sundaram inspired attendees with a powerful message about the importance of collecting ‘hearts’, not just business, to achieve lasting success.
An awards ceremony followed, honouring outstanding individual and chapter performances. The award for Best Region of the Year 2025 was presented to the Colombo North Region, while BNI Inspire Chapter – Colombo North was named Top Chapter of the Country 2025. The Green Awards Chapter – 12 Months was awarded to BNI Kingdom Chapter – Colombo South.
The event concluded with cocktails and a gala dinner, capping off a memorable and impactful day of connection, recognition, and inspiration.
