The Central Business Incubator (CBI) of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies of the University of Kelaniya, in association with the Regional Development Bank of Sri Lanka (RDB), conducted an awareness programme on financial and other related facilities that undergraduates can capitalize on in their venturing motivations.

The event was held on the 15^th of June 2023 in the premises of the Department of Commerce and Financial Management of the University of Kelaniya.

A larger number of entrepreneurial intentions do not translate into action owing to the liabilities of newness and one such predominant liability includes the access to finance. The awareness programme was held in this spirit.

The chairman of the RDB, Mr. Susantha De Silva, the Assistant General Manager – Marketing, Mr. L. A. R. Fernando, the Manager – Digital Banking, Mr. Hasitha Amarasinghe, and the Senior Manager – Credit, Mr. Saman Priyankara contributed to the event. Representing the university, the Director of the CBI, Dr. Srinath Dissanayake, the coordinator of the entrepreneurship stream of the Department of Commerce and Financial Management, Ms. Deepani Wijethunga, and a Senior Lecturer of the Department of Commerce and Financial Management, Mr. Dulip Anuranga, participated in the discussions.

The chairman and the other representatives of RDB discussed various avenues that the University of Kelaniya undergraduates can capitalize on in their venturing aspirations. These awareness sessions are an initial step to translating undergraduates’ entrepreneurial intentions into action. According to the director of CBI, further discussions are being progressed with the RDB to facilitate undergraduate entrepreneurship.

Over 30 undergraduates representing almost every faculty of the University of Kelaniya participated in the session.