Uber Eats empowers local merchants with business education programme

Chathuranga Abeysinghe

Uber Eats recently marked a new milestone in its mission to empower small businesses in Sri Lanka. 

Forty merchant partners on the Uber Eats platform graduated with a Diploma in Business Management from UNITAR International University, Malaysia, delivered in collaboration with the Institute of Governance and Compliance (IGC). 

The education programme was sponsored by Uber Eats to give the merchant partners a deeper understanding of business strategy, financial planning, marketing, and leadership that will help grow and improve their businesses. 

Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, and was joined by Samadhie Bandara, CEO & Executive Vice President, IGC; and Varun Wijewardana, Country Manager - Delivery, Uber Eats - Sri Lanka. 

Minister Abeysinghe said, “Empowering small businesses with education is one of the most sustainable ways to drive economic growth and job creation in Sri Lanka. I commend Uber Eats for investing in our local entrepreneurs and helping equip them with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Initiatives like these strengthen not just individual businesses, but entire communities.”

Varun Wijewardana, Country Manager - Uber Eats, Sri Lanka, said, “At Uber, we recognize the transformative power of continued learning. This initiative reflects our belief in education as a catalyst for empowering entrepreneurs and uplifting small businesses. By equipping our merchant partners with essential business knowledge, we are laying a strong foundation for their long-term success and sustainable growth.”

This executive education programme builds upon Uber’s ongoing efforts to support local entrepreneurs. Previous initiatives include the Uber Springboard program - providing mentorship to selected start-ups, and the Uber Entrepreneurship Challenge, which celebrated and supported innovation with ideas from merchant partners and couriers.