Banking incentive for rural masses

D. C. de Silva Kahawa special corr.

The Peoples’ Bank (PB) Service Centre at Kaluwella Galle, was recently shifted to a new building at 141, Galle Road, and the days deposits by the customers on the opening day January 19 totalled Rs. 5.5 million.

Galle SSP, Keerthi Silva was the chief guest for the ceremonial occasion.

A. Siripala, People’s Bank Southern Province, Assistant General Manager said the Bank was a brainchild of the then Trade Minister T. B. Ilangaratne commenced in 1961” under late Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s regime”.

He said its motive was to facilitate the rural masses to make money transaction with the People’s Bank.

Those masses were not facilitated to carry on money transaction with other banks. The AGM said they were given the opportunity to open an account in the (PB) with the least possible sum,” and the first year deposits of the so opened (PB) was Rs. 45 billion.

The Bank is now serving the people in many different ways and had become the “Bank of the People”.

Chief Guest, Galle SSP, Keerthi Silva said the P.B. had become most popular among the masses islandwide, working for the people to gain economic benefits in different ways.