The Regional Development Bank (RDB) relocated its Thirappanae branch to a more spacious and a conveniently accessible location on Kandy Road, Thirappane to provide a better and modern service experience to customers in the area.
With the relocation of its branch, RDB renewed its genuine banking relationship with the individuals and the businessmen in the area, opening its doors to the aspiring entrepreneurs to benefit from the banks many customized financial facilities and advisory services.
Minister of Public Enterprises, Kabir Hashim was the chief guest. Minister of Women and Children Affairs Chandrani Bandara, Minister of Rural Economic Affairs P. Harison, parliamentarians in the area, Provincial Council members and guests were also present.
Minister Kabir Hashim pointed out the importance of locating RDB’s branch in a place such as Thirappane due its role in developing the SME and micro industries in the rural areas. He commended the important role played by the RDB so far for providing financial assistance to the less privileged population in the provinces and the loans with concessionary interest rates to the entrepreneurs at the village level.
The bank has a network of 268 branches mainly outside the Colombo district.
The Minister also visited a few dairy farmers in the area funded by the RDB and a few micro type of industries.He also visited the Upuldeniya (Mihinthale) warehouse complex constructed with aid from the World Bank and managed by the RDB. This warehouse complex could hold 5000MT of grain when it is in full capacity.
He commended the RDB for undertaking such projects specially in the areas where other financial institutions or banks have not gone into and where the rural masses and the farmers could get the maximum benefits and prices for their products.
RDB Chairman Prasanna Premaratne, Executive Director Priyantha Abeysinge, General Manager/CEO T.A. Ariyapala, Regional General Manager of CBSL and other government officials, North Central Province Regional Manger of RDB, U.B. Semasinghe, and staff of the RDB and a large number of customers participated at the opening ceremony.