The Commercial Bank of Ceylon conducted a Financial Literacy Programme for paddy and dairy farmers in the Nochchiyagama area recently, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, bringing the total number of entrepreneurs assisted through such programmes to 7000 within a six year period.
A group of 100 farmers participated in this programme which was the eighth such event conducted by the Bank this year for micro and small and medium entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector. These programmes are periodically hosted in many parts of the country with the objective of enhancing the financial literacy level of such entrepreneurs, the Bank said.
The resource person for this programme was Mr Sarath Ekanayaka, the Senior Assistant Director of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, an experienced speaker on financial literacy and business development.
The programme was held at the Divisional Secretariat Auditorium in Nochchiyagama and was attended by the Assistant Divisional Secretary of Nochchiyagama, Mr R. M. N. S. Rajakaruna, Commercial Bank’s Regional Manager – North Central Region, Mr Michael De Silva, the Nochchiyagama Branch Manager Mr. Dilan Walpita and other officials from the Bank.
Commercial Bank has been conducting awareness programmes for microentrepreneurs in different sectors of business in many areas of the country.
These programmes are supported by the Bank’s 16 Agriculture & 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 promote agriculture lending and micro finance.
Commercial Bank’s Agriculture & Micro Finance Units are located in Ratnapura, Narammala, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Kilinochchi, Bandarawela, Wellawaya, Hingurakgoda, Galewela, Achchuveli, Vavuniya, Kattankudy, Tissamaharama, Neluwa, Pottuvil and Akkaraipattu.