The 3rd wave of the COVID 19 pandemic and the travel restrictions imposed by the government since 21st May 2021 hampered the operations of the entire microfinance industry including all member MFIs of Lanka Microfinance Practitioners’ Association (LMFPA) as well as the livelihoods of their customers. As a representative body, the Association advised its members to provide concessions to their borrowers during this difficult period and help find practical solutions to the borrowers’ loan repayments while trying to minimize losses.
In an effort to uplift the spirits of MFI management staff and to motivate them to overcome from the stress of COVID 19 pandemic in Sri Lanka, the LMFPA organized an online seminar on Mindfulness and Customer Relationship Management on the 28th of June 2021. LMFPA invited leading business trainer and TV personality Mr. Amintha Sugath De Silva to facilitate this programme. Mr. Amintha is an ex-banker of Commercial Bank and Sanasa Development Bank and his expertise as a Business trainer and motivational speaker was very useful for MFIs under the present context in the country.
The programme was specially catered to address Senior Managers and Department Heads of MFIs and close to 100 participants representing 13 member organizations took part in the programme. Following its success LMFPA hosted a similar programme on 10th July 2021 targeting field staff of MFIs where more than 200 staff benefitted from it representing 14 member organizations.
