MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA) Becomes Supporting Partner for Asia Microfinance Forum

The Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA), a network of 29 banks in Sri Lanka, has announced that it will become a supporting partner for the Asia Microfinance Forum, a conference taking place in Sri Lanka in October 2010 and organized by Banking with the Poor Network (BWTP Network) of Singapore. SLBA’s membership reportedly consists of all the commercial and specialized banks that operate in Sri Lanka. The move is reported to be significant because “SLBA will inspire its [members to have] greater involvement in the microfinance industry in Sri Lanka” [1].

During the conference, BWTP Network and the Australian Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC), with lead sponsorship from the Citi Foundation (affiliated with global financial services provider Citi), will discuss how “greater financial inclusion is dependent upon the microfinance sector increasing its capacity to provide innovative, well-structured and appropriate services and to scale up across all countries” [2].

In July MicroCapital reported on the event here: https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-event-the-2010-asia-microfinanc….

By Julia Korn, Research Associate

About Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA):

Founded in 1984, Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA) is registered under Sri Lanka’s Companies Act. The first Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Association was D R Smith. The Association has 29 member banks as of August 2010. SLBA is governed by a board of directors which consists of the chief executive officers of its member banks. For 2008, the average return on assets (ROA) for all member banks was 1.7 percent and the average return on equity (ROE) for all member banks was 13.3 percent.

About The Banking With the Poor Network (BWTP Network):

The Banking with the Poor Network (BWTP Network), an Asian microfinance network based in Singapore, is an initiative of the Foundation for Development Cooperation. The Network is an association of a “diverse range of microfinance stakeholders committed to improving the quality of life of the poor through promoting and facilitating their access to sustainable financial services.” It reports to, but does not list financial data on, the MIX market website.

About The Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC):

The Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC) was founded in 1990 and is based in Brisbane, Australia, with offices in Singapore and Fiji. FDC conducts policy-oriented research and mobilizes Australian and international support for development efforts.

About the Citi Foundation:

The Citi Foundation, affiliated with global financial services provider Citi, provides grants and guarantees focusing on the areas of microfinance, small and growing businesses, education, financial education, neighborhood revitalization and asset building. Since 2000, the Citi Foundation has granted approximately USD 60 million in support of 250 microfinance programs and organizations across 55 countries.

Sources and Additional Resources:

[1] Microfinance Africa. “Sri Lanka Banks’ Association partners Asia Microfinance Forum 2010” on August 16, 2010. http://microfinanceafrica.net/microfinance-around-the-world/sri-lanka-banks-association-partners-asia-microfinance-forum-2010/

[2] MicroCapital. “MICROCAPITAL EVENT: The 2010 Asia Microfinance Forum in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from October 12 – October 15, 2010” by Julia Korn on July 2, 2010. https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-event-the-2010-asia-microfinance-forum-in-colombo-sri-lanka-from-october-12-–-october-15-2010/

MicroCapital Universe. Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA). https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Sri+Lanka+Banks%E2%80%99+Association+%28SLBA%29

MicroCapital Universe. The Banking With the Poor Network (BWTP Network). https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=The+Banking+with+the+Poor+Network+%28BWTP+Network%29

MicroCapital Universe. The Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC). https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=The+Foundation+for+Development+Cooperation+%28FDC%29

MicroCapital Universe. The Citi Foundation. https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Citi+Foundation

Browse the MicroCapital Universe and add your entry to the wiki at https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/

Similar Posts: