People’s Bank recognises Entrepreneurship Village Competition winners

People’s Bank Dikwella branch receives award

People’s Bank recognised the winners of Entrepreneurship Village Competition 2024, at a special awards ceremony held recently at People’s Tower, Colombo 2.

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 the 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 regional level. Out of a total of 21 People’s Bank Entrepreneurship Villages, the top 10 were selected and recognised with awards.

The award-winning villages were established under the leadership of People’s Bank branches in Dikwella, Galigamuwa, Monaragala, Siyabalanduwa, Keppetipola, Gampola, Kadugannawa, Hatton, Nildandahinna and Aralaganwila.

A distinguished gathering attended the ceremony, including Central Bank of Sri Lanka Regional Development Department Director Chathura Ariyadasa, People’s Bank Deputy General Manager SME, Development and Micro Finance Wickrama Narayana, Deputy General Manager Channel Management Naleen Pathiranage, Deputy General Manager Retail Banking and Overseas Customer Service Aruni Liyanagunawardena, along with the members of the executive management, regional management, senior managers and officers of regional credit divisions, branch managers, branch village coordinators and other bank staff.