116 young entrepreneurs from North Western Province identified for ‘Thurunu Diriya’ loans

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe giving a Thurunu Diriya loan to a young entrepreneur at Ibbagamuwa, Kurunegala

The ‘Thurunu Diriya’ loan scheme, which was designed to empower young entrepreneurs, was launched by Bank of Ceylon (BOC) with the assistance of the Policy Development Office of the Prime Minister’s Office. Loans have been already granted for three young entrepreneurs of the North Western province under the above loan scheme. This was revealed at a progress review meeting for the North Western Province, which was held on 13 July at the Kurunegala District Secretariat. Further, it was revealed that 116 young entrepreneurs in this province who were qualified to receive this loan were identified, and business plans for 21 entrepreneurs were prepared by the Small Enterprises Development Division and handed over to Bank of Ceylon. 

The officials representing the Kurunegala District Secretariat, Central Program Management Unit (CPMU) of the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Policy Development Office of the Prime Minister’s Office, BOC, Small Enterprises Development Division and all the divisional secretariats of the North Western Province participated in this progress review meeting.

The BOC Thurunu Diriya loan scheme grants loans without a guarantor and collateral, or with lenient guarantor conditions, for small-scale young entrepreneurs who have been in the business for at least three years and possess a degree or a recognised vocational certificate.  Further details of this loan scheme can be obtained from BOC branches or divisional secretariats island-wide.