World Bank's Agrifin quarterly seminar:

Chandula to speak in Washington

Hatton National Bank Marketing and Retail Banking Deputy General Manager Chandula Abeywickrema has been invited by World Bank's Agrifin team to share his experience and expertise at their quarterly seminar, which would be held on January 24, at the World Bank office in Washington DC.

The World Bank Agrifin team organizes the quarterly seminar as part of the knowledge management program of Agrifin to showcase the lessons learnt and to understand the state-of-the-art practices for agriculture financing for small holders.

Chandula, who is an expert in the financial inclusion, specially focusing on microfinance and small holder agriculture financing is the Banking With The Poor Network (BWTP) Chairman an international body representing the largest network of microfinance practitioners and networks in Asia and very much recognized in Asia for his expertise in the field of microfinance and agriculture finance and financial inclusion.

Chandula will showcase in his presentation the state of the small holder agriculture finance activities in Sri Lanka and the key role played by HNB in designing products, services, distribution, outreach, risk management, and technology employed.

HNB has been involved in agriculture financing from the very inception of the bank and in the last two decades, has been very aggressive in creating access to financial services for small holder agriculture financing through HNB's "Gami Pubuduwa." HNB's world acclaimed Gami Pubuduwa microfinance program, which focus on greater financial inclusion, particularly in the rural areas have successfully created many models and programs and also has created key partnerships and linkages for sustainable and commercially viable agriculture development right across the country through its network of 205 Branches throughout the country.

With the conclusion of the ethnic war and when Sri Lanka is at the threshold of greater economic development, the Government is greatly focussing on rural and agriculture development and taking the economic development to more people in more places.

It will be an ideal opportunity and time for an expert like Chandula with great exposure in Asia not only to showcase HNB's involvement in small holder agriculture financing, which has created a significant agriculture development in many parts of the country through its branch network but also to showcase the potential the country holds in small holder agriculture financing and draw the attention of the international agencies.