SME expert Dr. Ravi Bamunusinghe to empower Pan Asia Bank’s team to be ready for booming SME sector

Continuous development and training of staff is a key component of Pan Asia Bank. Synonymous with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) banking, Pan Asia Bank remains committed to empowering SMEs to reach their full potential by helping them to overcome the challenges emanating from the economic crisis through training its staff to fulfil their needs. In keeping with this belief, an SME Development Program was hosted by the bank under the expertise of reputed trainer, researcher and SME consultant, Dr. Ravi Bamunusinghe, to align Pan Asia Bank staff with the changes in the industry and to empower them with the necessary skills especially in the background of the current economic context and future prospects. 

The valuable sessions were conducted by Dr. Ravi Bamunusinghe (Ph.D), who is also a visiting faculty member of the Postgraduate Institute of Management and University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He has commenced lecturing after three decades of industry exposure in business research and consultancy and is responsible for having initiated two business research agencies that cater to local, international and multinational companies, focused on providing strategic direction and brand positioning. Currently, he is engaged in the development of SMEs in Sri Lanka and in the blueprint committee and the jury of the SME Development Awards 2022. Dr. Bamunusinghe took part in this noble exercise without any benefit, with the sole objective of developing the SME sector in the country. 

Commenting on the program, Pan Asia Bank Director/CEO Naleen Edirisinghe said, “The bank would like to thank Dr. Ravi Bamunusinghe for generously giving his valuable time and knowledge to empower the Pan Asia Bank team with the necessary skills to take advantage of the recovery of the SME sectors in a way that helps us carve out a greater share of the market by meeting their precise needs. Such skill development efforts demonstrate the continuous commitment of the Truly Sri Lankan bank, Pan Asia Bank, towards the upliftment of their staff to meet the needs of its SME base with the objective of making a significant contribution to the revival of the Sri Lankan economy.” 

The bank’s frontline branch managers and area managers underwent training under his expertise so as to be updated with current market and industry trends to aid their skills to expand share of the SME business in the bank’s business portfolio. The well-known SME strategy was discussed and formulated to aid in fulfilling the goals of the bank in the next financial year. The program was a success, with the entire team coming together to build award-winning SME strategies and implementing processes that would pave the way for success in the banking industry.