The National SME Forum organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will be held today (28 June) via the Zoom platform from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. under the theme ‘Accelerating economic growth through creation of a dynamic SME sector’. 

It will be inaugurated by Minister of Industries and Commerce Wimal Weerawansa, and the keynote address will be delivered by People’s Bank Chairman Sujeewa Rajapakshe.

The full-day virtual event will be conducted in Sinhala medium as a Zoom webinar and is open for registration. It will also be livestreamed via Facebook and interested parties can watch it via Facebook page link: https://www.facebook.com/Centreforsmes.

Session 1 will outline the facilitation of access to finance for SMEs as it is a key impediment for both setting up and expansion of SMEs. A key prerequisite for SME development is having access to finance to invest in modernisation, expansion and successful operations. This session will include presentations by Central Bank of Sri Lanka Deputy Governor Yvette Fernando, and Dankotuwa Porcelain CEO Channa Gunawardena. 

hey will be joined by Ministry of Finance Additional Director General P.M.K. Hettiarachchi, USAID’s Catalyze Sri Lanka (PSD) Project Director, Financial Services Jude Fernando, and People’s Bank AGM Wickrama Narayana for a panel discussion, moderated by USAID Partner Project Senior Consultant Hasitha Wijesundera. 

Session 2 will cover the challenges faced by SMEs in accessing suitable markets and promoting business linkages between large enterprises and SMES as well as aces to international markets. The speakers will be Sri Lanka Exports Development Board Chairman Suresh De Mel, and Dafedil Academy of Business, Marketing and Digital Director/Co-Founder Yasas Hewage. 

They will be joined by Good Market Co-founder Achala Samaradivakara, Selyn Exports Director Business Development Selyna Peiris, and Small Enterprise Development Division Director Sudheera Jayaratne, for a panel discussion. The session will be moderated by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Economist Jayani Rathnayake.

Session 3 will discuss the adoption of New Technology, Innovation and Digitisation, and how the use of digital technology will help enhance performance of SMEs and offer more opportunities. 

Presentations will be made by Ministry of Technology Secretary Jayantha De Silva, Industrial Technology Institute Chairman Dr. Sirimal Premakumara, and Facebook APAC Director, Emerging Markets Jordi Fornies, followed by a panel discussion along with Ministry of Industry and Commerce Additional Secretary, Industrial Development L.S. Naseer, Facebook Policy Programs Manager Dr. Yasas V. Abeywickrama, and Dialog Axiata PLC Chief Executive Officer Supun Weerasinghe, moderated by ICTA Director, Capacity Development Sameera Jayawardena.  

Session 4 will elaborate on the development of talent/skills for accelerated growth of the SME sector where importance and ways and means of upgrading of managerial skills of SME entrepreneurs will be discussed in detail. This session will focus on strategies and actions for strengthening demand driven technology transfer, training and skills development initiatives focused on SMEs. 

Presenters will be Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC Deputy General Manager HR/Chief HR Officer Isuru Thilakawardena, and University of Sri Jayewardenepura PIM Former Director Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri, followed by a panel discussion including Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) Chairman Udeni Wickremasinghe, Associate Professor and Management Consultant Dr. Nirmal de Silva, and Kent Holdings Chairman Gamini Saparamadu. The session will be moderated by TVEC Director General Dr. K.A. Lalithadheera.

Session 5 will deliberate on the Role of Chambers in Regional SME Development where focus will be placed on enhancement of regional growth, encouraging relocation of businesses out of the Western Province, enhancing the capacity and skills of existing businesses in the regions as well as transforming regional SMEs to become an integral part of the supply chain within the country. 

The session panellists would be Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Secretary General/CEO Manjula De Silva, Galle District Chamber of Commerce President Vipula Jayaratne, Sabaragamuwa Province Chamber of Commerce President Jagath Rambukwella, Puttalam District Chamber of Commerce Founder President Shiran Karunaratne, Trincomalee District Chamber of Commerce President K. Kuladeepan, Chamber of Commerce of Yalpanam Vice President N. Nandarupan, and Anuradhapura District Chamber of Commerce President Mahinda Jayasena. 

The session will be moderated by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Centre for SMEs Business Development Manager Yasura Samarakoon. 

The National SME Forum is sponsored by Facebook, Hatton National Bank and Maersk Lanka Ltd.

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