University of Vavuniya and LIIN partner to nurture women entrepreneurs in Northern Province

Signing of MoU between LIIN and UOV (from left): UBL Director S. Mathivathany, Registrar N. Rajavisahan, Vice Chancellor Senior Prof. A. Atputharajah, LIIN Chairman Chandula Abeywickrema and General Manager Vishvanath Gunawardena

There is a growing need to develop and empower women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. With high levels of unemployment and limited economic diversification, the region holds untapped potential for inclusive growth. Strengthening entrepreneurship among women can serve as a powerful catalyst for local development—unlocking new business opportunities, strengthen local value chains, and generating employment for marginalised youth and women.

Recognising this potential, the Lanka Impact Investing Network (LIIN) and the University of Vavuniya (UOV) have joined forces through a formal partnership to develop a gender-responsive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northern Sri Lanka and to support the improvement of economic well-being, particularly among women in the region.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising this strategic partnership was signed by LIIN Chairman Chandula Abeywickrama, and UOV Vice Chancellor Senior Prof. A. Atputharajah. This collaboration aims to build a broader base for business growth in the North by providing women entrepreneurs with access to tailored training, mentoring, and investment readiness support—equipping them to scale their businesses and connect to wider markets, both locally and globally.

The MoU outlines a range of mutual benefits for both LIIN and UOV. As part of this partnership, UOV will support the development of industry-specific and business management curricula tailored for entrepreneurs. The university will also deliver targeted, interactive learning sessions, provide specialised support services to help women entrepreneurs address gender-based challenges, and offer access to training spaces and facilities essential for implementing program activities. The University Business Linkage (UBL) in UOV is actively involved in fostering partnerships with industries and businesses, providing opportunities for consulting, knowledge sharing, and research commercialisation. 

LIIN is dedicated to promoting impact investing among identified women entrepreneurs in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, providing comprehensive support services tailored to the needs of women in business, including industry-specific training, business management workshops, and ongoing mentorship to help participants strengthen and grow their enterprises.

Through this joint initiative, women entrepreneurs will be empowered with enhanced knowledge, practical business skills, and access to resources—enabling them to connect with private equity, enter relevant markets, and scale their businesses toward greater commercial viability.

LIIN Chairman Chandula Abeywickrama expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating, “This is indeed a very unique collaborative partnership between UOV and LIIN to nurture, develop, and empower entrepreneurship in the Vavuniya District.” He further said with a greater focus on women entrepreneurship, LIIN will bring the dynamics of making the MSME entrepreneurs in Vavuniya District commercially viable in the short, mid, and long term; business scalability in the short , mid, and long term; and finally , business sustainability in the short, mid, and long term. Additionally, LIIN also will bring the greater corporate business sector support to the many initiatives of the University of Vavuniya through this partnership.” 

UOV Vice Chancellor Senior Prof. A. Atputharajah emphasised the importance of university-business linkages and technology transfer initiatives in strengthening community engagement. He highlighted that the university, through its Centre for Continuous and Development Education (CCDE) and SME programs, has already trained over 180 community members, the majority being women, in entrepreneurship and self-employment. The Vice Chancellor noted that this collaboration perfectly aligns with the university’s growing focus on community development, particularly in empowering women entrepreneurs in the Northern Province. 

The MoU signing ceremony also featured the participation of LIIN General Manager Vishvanath Gunawardena, Field Project Coordinator Ravinthiran Ganapriyan, Registrar N. Rajavisahan, UBL Director S.Mathivathany, Faculty of Applied Science Dean J.Nimalan, Faculty of Technological Studies Dean V. Senduran, Bursar L. Ramramanan, Career Guidance Unit Counselor P. Sasitharan and Faculty Coordinators. 

This partnership marks a significant milestone in advancing the GRIT (Growth, Resilience, Investment, and Training) program—specifically its “Empower Pengal” initiative, which focuses on empowering women entrepreneurs in Northern Sri Lanka. Funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented in collaboration with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), with LIIN leading key project activities, the program is a transformative effort to drive inclusive socio-economic development in the Northern Province. The partnership with UOV will help bridge existing gaps and further strengthen the region’s leadership in women’s entrepreneurship, creating lasting benefits for both the local community and the broader national economy. It is envisioned that through these efforts, the Northern Province will emerge as a dynamic and energetic hub for entrepreneurship, driving inclusive growth and innovation across Sri Lanka.