HNB Gami Pubuduwa Avurudu Pola 2025 concludes on high note

Saturday, 26 April 2025 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

HNB Chairperson Nihal Jayawardene, Managing Director/CEO Damith Pallewatte, and Chief Operating Officer Sanjay Wijemanne, together with special invitees, opening Gami Pubuduwa Avurudu Pola at BMICH

Sri Lanka’s leading private sector bank, HNB, successfully concluded the Gami Pubuduwa Avurudu Pola 2025, held on 5 and 6 April at the BMICH for the sixth time, drawing a large number of visitors and generating strong sales for over 150 microfinance entrepreneurs from across the island.

Organised under the bank’s flagship Gami Pubuduwa initiative, the two-day trade fair once again served as a dynamic platform for rural entrepreneurs to showcase their products, engage with urban consumers, and build valuable business linkages.

The event was held under the patronage of HNB Chairperson Nihal Jayawardene. Managing Director/CEO, Damith Pallewatte, and Senior Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, Sanjay Wijemanne, also in attendance. Representatives from key government institutions and long-standing development partners were present, including JICA Sri Lanka Chief Representative Kuronuma Kenji, JICA Senior Representative Yuri Ide, and JETRO Colombo Resident Representative Hiroki Oi, who addressed the gathering.

“Initiatives like the Gami Pubuduwa Avurudu Pola go beyond commerce — they represent the partnerships we build with entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka. Through consistent support, we aim to create real economic opportunities that empower communities and help shape a more resilient, inclusive economy.” Said HNB Managing Director/CEO, Damith Pallewatte

The fair featured a wide range of goods — from traditional foods, spices and handloom items to plants, crafts and wellness products — all created by entrepreneurs nurtured through HNB’s microfinance program. Many vendors reported strong sales and new customer leads, while several secured long-term business partnerships with corporate buyers and retailers.

“The overwhelming response to this year’s Avurudu Pola reaffirms the importance of providing visibility and access to Sri Lanka’s rural entrepreneurs,” said HNB Vice President / Head of Micro Finance Mahinda Seneviratne, “We are proud to have created a space where our microfinance customers not only sold their products, but also formed connections that will help them scale and sustain their businesses.”

Visitors, including members of the public, corporate stakeholders and industry professionals, engaged enthusiastically with exhibitors, further amplifying the reach and impact of the event.

Now a staple in the local business calendar, the Gami Pubuduwa Avurudu Pola continues to demonstrate HNB’s enduring commitment to empowering grassroots enterprise and fostering inclusive economic growth.

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