Saturday Aug 01, 2026
Saturday Aug 01, 2026
Friday, 31 July 2026 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
From top left: Deputy General Manager – Consumer and SME Banking Asanka Liyanage, and Manager – Environmental and Social Impact Aeshan Buddhakorala. From bottom left: Senior Manager – SME Banking Strategy Implementation Ranga Pathirana, and Strategic Planning Department Senior Economist Sanjaya Ariyawansa
Sampath Bank PLC recently brought together SME entrepreneurs, business leaders, strategic partners and members of its management team at The Thinnai Hotel, Jaffna, for its fifth SME Business Circle in the Northern Region, creating a platform for discussions centred on growth, resilience and long-term business success.
The gathering formed part of the bank’s continued commitment to strengthening Sri Lanka’s SME sector through knowledge sharing, customer engagement, and access to innovative banking solutions, inspiring businesses to make their next business move with confidence. The event provided a platform for direct dialogue between SME customers and the bank’s leadership, enabling discussions around evolving business needs, emerging opportunities and strategies that can help enterprises navigate an evolving economic landscape.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy General Manager – Consumer and SME Banking Asanka Liyanage highlighted the important role SMEs play in national economic development and reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to empowering entrepreneurs through innovative financial solutions, advisory services and digital capabilities. He also noted that Sampath Bank is the first Sri Lankan bank to implement a comprehensive end-to-end AI capability, designed specifically to enhance SME banking services and customer experience.
A key highlight of the event was a session conducted by Manager – Environmental and Social Impact Aeshan Buddhakorala who explored the importance of integrating sustainability into business operations. The session covered practical approaches to measuring resource consumption, managing operational impacts and adopting sustainable practices that can strengthen competitiveness, improve market readiness and support long-term growth. The discussion also highlighted climate-related business risks, evolving sustainability expectations and the growing importance of sustainable financing solutions, advisory support and capacity-building initiatives for businesses.
Strategic Planning Department Senior Economist Sanjaya Ariyawansa provided participants with insights into current economic conditions, market developments, challenges facing businesses and emerging opportunities that SMEs can leverage to strengthen future growth and competitiveness.
The event also featured demonstrations and networking opportunities with Sampath Bank’s strategic partners, including SULECO Ltd., Markspen Holdings Ltd. and Link Agro Ltd. The showcase introduced SMEs to innovative solutions across areas such as automation, industrial technology, geospatial services, drone applications and sustainable agricultural practices, highlighting opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency and business performance.
