People’s Bank Dikwella Branch Receives the award.
People’s Bank recognized the winners of the Entrepreneurship Village Competition 2024.
The Entrepreneurship Village concept was introduced by People’s Bank in 2023 to support several key objectives of the institution, including the financial empowerment of rural communities. The initiative enables this by providing both financial and non-financial services, extending concessional credit facilities, and integrating micro-entrepreneurs into the formal banking system. Its core aim is to strengthen entrepreneurial capabilities while helping these groups develop their products to meet export standards.
To further reinforce this initiative, the Bank’s Development and Micro Finance Department launched the Entrepreneurship Village Competition in 2024, encouraging the formation of small-scale Entrepreneurship Villages at the regional level. Out of a total of 21 People’s Bank Entrepreneurship Villages, the top ten were selected and recognized with awards.
The award-winning villages were established under the leadership of the People’s Bank branches in Dikwella, Galigamuwa, Monaragala, Siyabalanduwa, Keppetipola, Gampola, Kadugannawa, Hatton, Nildandahinna, and Aralaganwila.
A distinguished gathering attended the ceremony, including Chathura Ariyadasa, Director – Regional Development Department, Central Bank of Sri Lanka; Wickrama Narayana, Deputy General Manager – SME, Development and Micro Finance, People’s Bank; Naleen Pathiranage, Deputy General Manager – Channel Management; Aruni Liyanagunawardena, Deputy General Manager – Retail Banking and Overseas Customer Service along with members of the Executive Management, Regional Management, Senior Managers and officers of Regional Credit Divisions, Branch Managers, Branch Village Coordinators and other bank staff.
