Sampath Bank engages with SMEs and other stakeholders to share knowledge on international trade

Panellists at the inaugural ‘Obe Diyunuwata Ape Maga Penweema’ seminar held in Colombo (from left): Deputy Director of Customs K.G. Jayawardane, Inland Revenue Department Senior Commissioner D.R.S. Hapuarachchi, Import and Export Control Department Assistant Controller Padmini Kumarihamy, Sampath Bank PLC Senior Deputy General Manager – Corporate Banking Shashi Kandamby Jassim, Exchange Control Department Deputy Controller P.D.S.M. Fonseka, Exchange Control Department Assistant Controller Madu Jayarathna and Federation of Chambers of Commerce Secretary General Ajith D. Perera 

Panellists at the recent ‘Obe Diyunuwata Ape Maga Penweema’ seminar held in Galle (from left): Inland Revenue Department Senior Commissioner D.R.S. Hapuarachchi, Sri Lanka Export Development Board Deputy Director Anura Wickramasekera, Sampath Bank PLC Deputy General Manager – Corporate Banking Ayodya Iddawela Perera, Deputy Director of Customs C.S. Achala Chandrasekare, Import and Export Control Department Assistant Controller Kumudini Vidyalankara  and Deputy Director of Customs K.G. Jayawardane

Continuing to support businesses around the nation, Sampath Bank, one of the leading commercial banks in the country, hosted over 100 representatives of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) at the second edition of the bank’s ‘Obe Diyunuwata Ape MagaPenweema’ interactive seminars on imports and exports in Galle recently.

Spearheaded by the bank’s Trade Services unit, the event brought together a host of government institutions, trade bodies and other stakeholders to better address common issues faced by SMEs on imports and exports. Sharing its learnings, Sampath Bank also leverages its relationships to connect these businesses with other relevant stakeholders.

“At Sampath Bank, we are cognisant and appreciative of the contributions made by the country’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector to the economy. Right from our inception, we have continued to work closely with them, serving as a trusted financial partner, confidant and advisor. Aimed at sharing knowledge and building partnerships, the Obe Diyunuwata Ape Maga Penweema seminars are part of our efforts to add value to this sector,” said Sampath Bank PLC Senior Deputy General Manager – Corporate Banking Shashi Kandambi Jassim.

“We have always sought to look beyond our own commercial interests in our interactions with all our customers and tried to understand their needs and aspirations to deliver the right financial services to them. This is true of relationship with our SME customers too. Over the years, we noticed that they have a keen interest in venturing into imports and exports. We also learned about the issues they face in this regard. While being experts in their chosen fields, they often tend to need a bit of support on some of the minor nitty-gritties related to imports and exports. We are delighted to address these areas through events like the Obe Diyunuwata Ape Maga Penweema seminars. Inspired by the response to the first wave of seminars, we look forward to engaging SMEs around the island through more such events,” said Sampath Bank PLC Deputy General Manager – Corporate Banking AyodhyaIddawela Perera.

The seminar in Galle is part of a series of knowledge sharing sessions being conducted by the bank around the main regions of the island. The panel of speakers included Ajith D. Perera, Secretary General, Federation of Chambers of Commerce; Kumudini Vidyalankara, Assistant Controller, Import and Export Control Department, K.G. Jayawardhana, Deputy Director of Customs, Achala Chandrasekera, Deputy Director of Customs; D.R.S. Hapuarachchi, Senior Commissioner (HRD & IR), Inland Revenue Department; Anura Wickramasekera, Deputy Director, Southern Province office, Sri Lanka Export Development Board and representing Sampath Bank, Ayodhya Iddawela Perera, Deputy General Manager – Corporate Banking.

The inaugural Obe Diyunuwata Ape Maga Penweema seminar was held in Colombo. The second edition was concluded in Galle with great success and Sampath Bank plans to hold such events in all main regions in 2018.

Established in 1987, Sampath Bank has become a state-of-the-art financial institution that continues to be a market leader today thanks to its constant innovation and customer focused approach to business. Its unique tailor-made solutions, superior services and convenience of access have allowed Sampath Bank to further differentiate itself from the competition, making it the bank of choice for many in Sri Lanka.