A New Step towards Strengthening Financial Literacy and MSME Bankability

The Department of Financial Inclusion of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has initiated a nationwide Training of Trainers (ToT) Program on Financial Literacy and MSME Bankability, covering all 25 districts of Sri Lanka. The program aims to strengthen financial literacy at the grassroots level while enhancing the capacity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to access and effectively utilize formal financial services.

Under this initiative, 50 officers from each district are being trained as Regional Trainers (ToTs), comprising:

• 20 officers from the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs

• 20 officers from the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment

• 10 officers from the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development

These trained officers are expected to subsequently conduct awareness and capacity-building program within their respective districts, thereby creating a wider network of financial literacy trainers at the regional and community levels.

Progress of the Program

The pilot program in the Gampaha District has been successfully completed. Programs in Colombo, Galle and Matara Districts are currently being conducted and are scheduled to be completed within August 2026.

As an initial step towards implementing the program, a national-level awareness and pre-discussion session was held on 10 August 2026 at the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. Following this session, the Colombo District ToT program commenced on 12 August 2026.

Nature and Structure of the Training

The ToT program is conducted over four days and consists of two comprehensive modules covering key aspects of financial literacy and MSME bankability.

The training is facilitated by experienced resource persons, including senior lecturers from the University of Kelaniya and officials/resource persons from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The program combines theoretical knowledge with practical guidance to ensure that trainers are equipped to deliver effective financial literacy and MSME-related awareness programs at the community level.

Key Objectives of the Program

The overall objective of the program is to establish a capable network of regional trainers who can disseminate practical financial knowledge and support financially vulnerable communities and MSMEs.

Through the trained officers, the program is expected to promote awareness and practical knowledge on the following areas:

• Preventing and protecting against financial frauds and scams, including common fraudulent schemes and unsafe financial practices.

• Promoting effective savings practices and encouraging individuals and households to manage and invest their earnings productively.

• Preventing over-indebtedness and escaping microfinance traps by improving understanding of responsible borrowing, interest rates, repayment obligations and alternative financial options.

• Improving financial literacy among women, entrepreneurs and grassroots communities, particularly those with limited access to formal financial information.

• Strengthening the financial knowledge and business capabilities of MSMEs, enabling them to make informed financial decisions and improve their readiness to access formal financing.

• Enhancing MSME bankability by improving awareness of financial records, business planning, credit requirements and responsible financial management.

• Creating a sustainable district-level network of trainers who can continuously conduct financial literacy and entrepreneurship awareness programs within their communities.

Expected Outcome

The program is expected to establish a district-level pool of trained financial literacy and MSME trainers, enabling government officers to reach communities, women entrepreneurs and MSMEs through continuous awareness and capacity-building activities.

In the long term, this initiative will contribute to greater financial inclusion, improved financial decision-making, reduced vulnerability to financial fraud and excessive indebtedness, and increased access to formal financial services for women and MSMEs.

The “Bee Trainer” approach therefore represents an important step towards creating a financially informed, resilient and economically empowered grassroots community, while strengthening the capacity of MSMEs to participate more effectively in the formal financial system.