In line with the International Women’s Day 2026 theme, “Give to Gain,” Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) reinforced its commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs and sustainable local businesses by partnering with The Creative Isle Ltd. for the Women’s Day edition of CAN Market.
The collaboration, aligned with CDB’s Wings Ecosystem, aimed to provide women-led businesses with greater visibility, financial accessibility, and digital enablement while supporting the Market’s eco-conscious and community-driven ethos.
Held from 6 to 8 March at Arcade Independence Square, Colombo, the event brought together a vibrant mix of women-led enterprises, creative brands, and eco-conscious businesses. CAN Market offered local entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their products, connect with conscious consumers, and lay the groundwork for future phases of the initiative.
Visitors enjoyed a diverse array of artisanal offerings, supported by CDB’s digital payment solutions, including QR payments and exclusive benefits via CDB SELF, enhancing both accessibility and convenience.
Speaking on the initiative, CDB Brand Manager Michelle Jackson said:
"At CDB, we believe that empowering women entrepreneurs and supporting sustainable businesses is vital for community progress. Through the Wings Ecosystem, we continue to create opportunities that enable women-led enterprises to grow by providing financial solutions, visibility, and digital convenience. The CAN Market initiative reflects this commitment by bringing together entrepreneurs, conscious consumers, and a supportive community that encourages sustainable and inclusive growth."
Reserve Bank Staff College, Chennai Hosts Capacity-Building Program for 25 CBSL Officials
A 25-member delegation from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) visited India from 2–6 March 2026 to participate in a specialised Training and Capacity-Building Program on “Financial Frontiers – Innovation, Resilience and Internationalisation.”
The initiative follows an announcement by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025, under which India pledged 700 customised training slots annually for Sri Lankan professionals.
Organised by the Government of India at the Reserve Bank Staff College, Chennai, the week-long program provided central banking officials with contemporary insights into financial innovation, systemic resilience, and currency internationalisation. The curriculum combined theoretical frameworks, practical case studies, global experiences, and interactive sessions to foster strategic understanding and policy readiness.
Participants gained knowledge of emerging technologies and their impact on central banking, best practices in reserve management, currency internationalisation, and fintech regulation. The program also offered valuable networking opportunities with peers and experts in the field.
The initiative strengthened professional competencies, encouraged knowledge exchange, and deepened institutional and government-to-government linkages between India and Sri Lanka, reflecting the shared commitment to capacity building and people-centric economic cooperation in the financial sector.
CDB Empowers Women Entrepreneurs Through CAN Market Partnership
