Pan Asia Bank up skills SME hoteliers in Ella in partnership with National Chamber of Commerce

Pan Asia Bank, selected the scenic locales of Ella to host a specially developed SME workshop to uplift local tourism industry stakeholders in the region. 

The world-famous Ella is one of the top destinations in Sri Lanka for both local and foreign tourists. The SME workshop was a collaborative effort between Pan Asia Bank, National Chamber of Commerce, UVA Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Promotion Bureau UVA. The full-day event brought together key stakeholders, industry experts and the Pan Asia Bank Team for a series of insightful discussions to help SMEs thrive. 

Present at the event was Pan Asia Bank Director/CEO Naleen Edirisinghe, along with UVA Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman N.G.R.D. Kumarawansa, National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka – Special Programs Promotion Executive Officer Thilini Dilshani, and Uva Provincial Council – Industry Development and Tourism Sector Provincial Director and Uva Tourism Promotion Agency CEO Sampath Nishshanka and other officials. 

The special workshop aimed to enhance and develop the sector through a series of speeches, presentations and interactive activities. The agenda presentations on the positive factors and challenges in domestic tourism, essential traits for entrepreneurial success, financial literacy, key aspects of banking relationships, and budget management. In addition, group discussions focused on identifying and managing different types of capital, understanding cash flow and profit, and preparing practical cash flow plans. The event provided valuable networking opportunities for the participants. Moreover, in a further value addition, interactive sessions on employee engagement emphasised best practices in HR management, leadership development and promoting a healthy work-life balance.

The workshop was conducted by veteran Business Coach, Trainer and Consultant Sarath Dias-Bandaranayake, a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, Fellow of the Institute of Training and Development, Founder Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Professional Managers; Certified Life and Business Coach, a Trainer of Entrepreneurs, Banking and Finance and HR Professionals, essential skills, trainers, coaches; Life and Business Coach; Banking, Finance, Management and an HR Consultant.

Pan Asia Bank CEO Naleen Edirisinghe said: “The workshop is a clear indication of our firm and continued efforts towards building the nation through uplifting the business community, especially the tourism sector, which generates much-needed foreign currency and job opportunities for Sri Lankans. As we join hands with the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka and Uva Tourism, it is our understanding that more needs to be done to support Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. We acknowledge the importance of developing SMEs in order to promote and sustain tourism in Sri Lanka.” 

Pan Asia Bank said it is committed to continue its valuable support to the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) sector by conducting similar financial literacy workshops for SMEs across the length and breadth of the country.