HNB empowers Udappuwa fishing village

Udappuwa is a traditional fishing village in the North Western coastal belt, 30 km from Chilaw. The Udappuwa fishing village consists of around 15,000 and the majority of them are Tamils.

The village is well known for its elaborate Hindu temples and unique festivals.

The main Kovil Therupathi Amman was set up in 1750 and was recently reconstructed and is one of the largest kovils in the country.

In 1990, when Hatton National Bank (HNB) moved to Chilaw, the bank embarked on creating access to financial services to the flourishing fishing community in Udappuwa in 1996.

The bank established linkages and partnerships with the fishing society of Udappuwa to support the fishing community to become entrepreneurs.

In collaboration with the Udappuwa Fishing Society, the Bank opened a small Gami Pubuduwa Unit mainly to launch financial education, entrepreneur skills development, social uplift and a small fishing community programs.

Today this backward fishing village has taken new strides to greater social, cultural and economic development and its fishing industry has grown to greater heights.

The Bank through its partnerships with the Udappuwa fishing Society empowered a large number of fishermen to become entrepreneurs and over 1,500 people have been empowered and enriched with these initiatives.

Having understood the aspirations, expectations and the greater commitment of the people of Udappuwa, a further boost to the on going development of 15,000 population of Udappuwa, the Bank looked at creating greater access to financial services. The Bank opened its 208th branch recently with full fledged banking facilities.

Deputy General Manager Marketing Retail Banking Chandula Abeywickrema who spearheads the rural and Development Banking and Microfinance was the Chief Guest at the opening.

A large number of micro, small and medium scale loans was presented to emerging entrepreneurs and traders to coincide with the opening.

A donation of books and accessories were presented to a library at Andimune Tamil Vidyalaya. Abeywickrema commended the tireless efforts of the people of Udappuwa. He said that the uniqueness of this village was that the people's culture and heritage revolve around the therupathi Amman kovil, which was established in 1750 and recently re-constructed with the contributions of the residents of Udappuwa.