Rotary Sri Lanka’s New District Governor charts bold vision for SME revival

Delvin Pereira, Director at Amana Bank PLC and a banker with 37 years of experience in trade finance, SME lending, and risk management, has been appointed District Governor of Rotary Sri Lanka and Maldives for the 2025-2026 Rotary year.

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One of Pereira’s core visions for his term is the revival of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which he sees as vital to national recovery.

“SMEs form the backbone of our economy, contributing around 45 percent to GDP and driving income generation,” he emphasized. Yet, the sector is in deep crisis, with over 235,000 closures and approximately Rs. 5 million in unsold inventory—a stark result of recent economic shocks and the lasting impact of the pandemic. “Many SMEs are barely staying afloat,” Pereira observed. “While top-tier businesses may weather the storm, the majority urgently need capacity-building support to withstand current pressures and reposition themselves for long-term sustainability.”