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Pan Asia Bank-National Chamber of Commerce support SMEs

Pan Asia Bank partnered with the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) to strengthen entrepreneurial capabilities.

In line with the bank’s sustainable development goals and its memorandum of understanding with the NCCSL, Pan Asia Bank organised SME development workshops in collaboration with the chamber, focusing on the entrepreneurs in the SME sector, export-oriented businesses and women-led SMEs.

The workshop held in Maharagama recently, with around 100 participants attending, brought together entrepreneurs from Maharagama, Kottawa, Piliyandala, Homagama and surrounding areas, including the Pan Asia Bank customers and members of the NCCSL.

The workshop focused on three key areas: basic financial literacy and banking requirements, good governance practices for SMEs and awareness of SME refinancing schemes and sustainable business practices.

By bringing these areas together, the programme helped the entrepreneurs make better-informed business decisions while strengthening their ability to engage with formal financial institutions and access appropriate funding for growth.

Human resource development consultant, corporate trainer and visiting lecturer Jagath Miriyagalle brought more than three decades of professional experience in human resource management, sales, marketing, leadership and organisational development to the programme.

Pan Asia Bank’s Development Banking Unit also contributed to the workshop, providing insights into SME financing and opportunities available to entrepreneurs through banking and refinancing schemes. The inclusion of women-led SMEs and export-sector entrepreneurs reflected the bank’s efforts to support businesses at different stages of development and across diverse areas of the economy. By facilitating access to knowledge, financial awareness and sustainable business practices, the initiative sought to help entrepreneurs strengthen their enterprises and improve their capacity to contribute to economic activity and employment.

“As a responsible Sri Lankan bank, we want to be a partner to entrepreneurs at every stage of that journey. Through our collaboration with the NCCSL and other stakeholders, we are bringing practical knowledge closer to businesses in their own communities and helping them become more financially confident, better governed and more resilient. This is particularly important for women-led businesses and enterprises looking to expand into export markets, where stronger capabilities can open new opportunities for growth,” said Pan Asia Bank Director and CEO Naleen Edirisinghe.