PM’s Ministry reviews Enterprise Sri Lanka ‘Thurunu Diriya’ Eastern Province progress

Meeting with Nominated Officers at Batticaloa District Secretariat

The second progress review meeting for the Enterprise Sri Lanka /BoC ‘Thurunu Diriya’ loan scheme in the Eastern Provincewas held on Friday 1 March at the Batticaloa District Secretariat.

It was presided over by Charitha Ratwatte, Head of the Central Program Management Unit (CPMU) of the Ministry of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Northern Province Development, Vocational Training and Skills Development and Youth Affairs and Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister, Nominated Officers from all Divisional Secretariats in the Eastern Province, District Administration Officers, officer from Chief Secretariat office, Eastern Province, officers of the Central ProgramManagement Unit (CPMU), Policy Development Office (PDO) of the Prime Minister’s Office, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), Small Enterprise Development Division (SEDD) and Bank of Ceylon were present.

‘Thurunu Diriya’ was designed as a special loan scheme by the Bank of Ceylon and the Policy Development Officeof the Prime Minister’s Officefor young peopleunder 40 yearswho have a professional or technical qualificationwho have been in business for over three years and who have prepared a bankable business plan approved by Small Enterprise Development Division (SEDD).

At the last Eastern Province review held at the Trincomalee District Secretariat on 14 September 2018, the disbursements were as follows: Ampara eight, Trincomalee two, and Batticaloa no loans were granted. At the review held at Batticaloa on 1 March, the position was revealed to be as Ampara 34, Trincomalee 11 and Batticaloa 22.

Problems faced in expanding the program were discussed and solutions were suggested by the participants, themselves, based on their experience in implementing the program.

By special invitation, Batticaloa Farmers Association Chairman N. Suntharesan also participated and contributed to the discussion.

Each nominated officer from the Divisional Secretariats undertook to achieve targeted disbursements in collaboration with Bank of Ceylon,Branch managers, before the next review meeting to be held in May 2019.

The meeting ended with the Chairman thanking all participants for their valuable contribution.

Ratwatte also called upon the Governor Eastern Province M.L.A.M. Hizbullah and the District Secretary, Batticaloa M. Uthayakumar to appraise them of ‘Thurunu Diriya’.

All island, 583 ‘Thurunu Diriya’ loans have been disbursed by the Bank of Ceylon to date, having a substantial impact on youth entrepreneurship under the Finance Ministry’s Enterprise Sri Lanka program.It is noted that 62% of Thurunu Diriya entrepreneurs are women.