People’s Bank partners IFC, NCCSL to strengthen MSME customers

People’s Bank has joined hands with International Finance Corporation (IFC) and National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) to strengthen the financial awareness and financial literacy of Micro, Small and Medium sized Enterprises (MSMEs) through coordinating a special customer awareness program series. The first of these customer awareness programs was held on 3 March at the People’s Bank Staff Training College, Colombo 5. 

A selected team of Small and Medium sized entrepreneurs in Colombo district had been invited for the program and the session was based under the topic of ‘Adjusting the Business Plan during the Crisis’ and the services available at National Chamber of Commerce for MSMEs for local and foreign trade developments.  

The session was successfully conducted by IFC Master of Training Lalinda Wickramarathne and National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka Secretary General/ CEO Bandula Dissanayaka, with the participation of National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka Chairman Deepal Nelson, People’s Bank Deputy General Manager – Enterprise Banking Wickrama Narayana, Assistant General Manager – SME, Development and Microfinance Chaminda Ihalakorala, Senior Manager – SME and Micro Finance Chamari Perera, with other officials of the bank.  International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank group, has partnered with People’s Bank in developing entrepreneurship among MSMEs especially via training and capacity building. The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka has emerged as the leading trade and industrial body of the island, providing qualitative information on businesses, products and market opportunities.

This program empowered the customers to acquire the required knowledge on business planning and other initiatives for entrepreneurship development.