A group of 463 Green Leaf suppliers of the Harangala Tea Factory participated in this programme, the fifth such Financial Literacy Programme conducted by the Bank for micro and agriculture related entrepreneurs this year.
The Bank’s objective in conducting these programmes is to enhance the financial literacy level of micro entrepreneurs.
The resource person for the programme was Mr Aruna Deegala, Regional Manager, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Nuwara Eliya Office, an experienced speaker on financial literacy and business development.
The programme was held at the Harangala Tea Factory and was attended by the Commercial Bank’s Regional Manager, Central Region Mr Sanith Jayasundara, Senior Manager – Development Credit Department Mr Mohan Fernando, Manager of the Nawalapitiya Branch - Mr Jaliya Pagoda, Director Residential of Harangala Tea Factory - Mr Ashokalal Biyanwila and other officials from the Bank and the Harangala Tea Factory.
Commercial Bank also supported this customer segment with the launch a Hybrid Debit Card cum Identification Card coupled with Sony ‘FeliCa’ Near Field Communication (NFC) technology last year.
This personalised card enables the automation of calculation of the payments to leaf suppliers.
These payments are instantly transmitted to a central server by a data acquisition device, and then transferred to their savings accounts at Commercial Bank.
Commercial Bank has been conducting awareness programmes for Micro Entrepreneurs 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, and 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.
Pictured here is the resource person for the seminar Mr Aruna Deegala conducting a session.