ComBank conducts empowerment program for Neluwa’s micro and small entrepreneurs

The Dirishakthi program for Neluwa’s micro and small entrepreneurs and  tree planting activity in progress

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon recently conducted an awareness program for micro and small entrepreneurs in the Neluwa area in the Galle District, to empower them with the knowledge essential for the growth of their businesses.

Conducted under the ‘Dirishakthi Sustainable Entrepreneurship Development’ initiative of the Bank, the program held at the auditorium of the Neluwa Divisional Secretariat Office focussed on financial discipline, investment methods, financial fraud, the Credit Information Bureau of Sri Lanka (CRIB) credit report process and the Bank’s development lending products for entrepreneurs.

The keynote address was delivered by Andaradeniya Group Chairman, Tea Factory Owners Association of Sri Lanka Treasurer and Matara District Tea Factory Owners’ Association President Dr. Jinadasa Wettinge.

 Several prominent local personalities including the Neluwa Divisional Secretary Shantha Priyadarshana, Small Enterprises Development Authority (SED) Galle Assistant Director Nandalal Jayasekara and Neluwa Police Station OIC Ashoka Basnayaka were joined by Commercial Bank representatives including the Development Credit Department Senior Manager Malika De Silva, Neluwa Branch Manager Suranga Gamage, and the Agriculture and Microfinance Coordinator K.P.N. Chamith Kumara who moderated the event.

As part of the program, the special guests were invited to plant fruit trees in the compound of the Divisional Secretariat office, and 250 saplings of forest plants such as Kumbuk, Mee, Na, Hora, Jack, Ratadomba, Kahanda and Etamba were distributed to promote environmental sustainability.

Commercial Bank has been conducting awareness programs for micro entrepreneurs in different sectors of business in many areas of the country for the past 12 years, and has helped more than 12,000 entrepreneurs to date through this series.

These programs are supported by the Bank’s 19 Agriculture and Micro Finance Units which play a key role in helping the Bank to identify specific needs of entrepreneurs who require assistance to develop either their agriculture activities or micro businesses. These units are dedicated to promoting agriculture lending and micro finance.

Commercial Bank’s Agriculture and Micro Finance Units (AMFU) are located in Ratnapura, Narammala, Nawalapitiya, Marawila, Anuradhapura, Kilinochchi, Bandarawela, Wellawaya, Hingurakgoda, Galewela, Achchuveli, Vavuniya, Chenkalady, Deniyaya, Tissamaharama, Udugama, Pottuvil, Elpitiya, and Akkaraipattu.