ComBank conducts Capacity Building programme for Uva Agri SMEs
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon recently extended its support to 150 entrepreneurs of the Uva Province by providing them with valuable information on developing their businesses, through a special programme organised for them. The programme was jointly organised by the Bandarawela, Badulla and Welimada branches with assistance of the Bank’s Agriculture and Micro Finance Unit (AMFU) –Bandarawela.
The programme in Bandarawela was conducted in collaboration with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), and covered the topics ‘Improvement of agricultural product quality by applying key concepts of post harvesting technology, in relation to cut flower, vegetable and tea industries’ and ‘Possibilities of entering export markets in the above sectors.’
Entrepreneurs from the Tea, Floriculture and Vegetable sectors, nominated by the Bank’s Badulla, Bandarawela and Welimada branches participated in this programme.
Sanath Perera, Regional Manager, Commercial Bank, Uva - Sabaragamuwa, D. M. D. B. Disanayaka, Provincial Manager – Kandy of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and E. B. Sooriyaarachchi, Senior Manager, Commercial Bank Development Credit Department were the chief invitees for this programme.
Among the representatives of other supportive institutions were Messrs G. A. Gurusinghe, Deputy Director of the Agriculture Department, D. Perera, Deputy Director of the Export Development Board, S. S. S. Guruge, Assistant Commissioner of the Tea Board and I. V. Mohotti, Assistant Regional Manager of the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority.
The Commercial Bank has conducted similar programmes for SMEs and micro entrepreneurs in areas such as Narammala, Galle, Monaragala, Wellawaya, Badulla, Passara, Bandarawela, Welimada, Weligama, Koggala, Karapitiya, Matara, Batticaloa, Ampara, Jaffna and Vavuniya in the recent past.
The Bank’s Agriculture and Micro Finance Units are located in Ratnapura, Narammala, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Kilinochchi, Bandarawela, Wellawaya, Hingurakgoda, Galewela, Atchuvely, Vavuniya and Tissamaharama. They identify and support people who need financial assistance for Agri/Micro businesses and provide guidance on how to improve their businesses and help resolve difficulties.