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| Sunday, 13 February 2005 |
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Call to revive SME sector by Hiran H. Senewiratne Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse called upon business chambers in the country to work in close co-operation with the government to revive the SME sector, which has been severely affected by the recent tsunami disaster. The Premier said that more than 50 per cent of the SME sector enterprises in affected areas had been destroyed and its revival was a big challenge the country was faced with today. "Several economists are of the view that the SME sector is the engine of growth, and its contribution to the economy is enormous." The Prime Minister who was the chief guest was addressing the 46th Annual General Meeting of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL). He said that the SME sector in the coastal districts such as fisheries and tourist industries were the worst affected. Therefore, the government has designed many rehabilitation programs to revive them. Minister of Advanced Technology and Enterprise Development Rohitha Bogollagama said that the government had already laid the foundation to assist all micro and SME sector enterprises in the tsunami hit areas. He said that already a national survey of the situation was under way and the Institute of Policy Studies was now assessing the damage caused to micro and macro level enterprises including informal sectors. The newly established SME bank would also assist the sector in a big way to restore normalcy. To achieve all these challenges political patronage was absolutely necessary. Working together was the need of the hour to resuscitate the country," the Minister added. President of the NCCSL, Asoka Gunasekera, said that the chamber was dedicated to support the SME sector and revive it along with the agricultural sector and integrate with the export economy. The chamber had decided to launch a fund for SME disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction, he said. He said that this was the ideal time for all citizens in the country especially political leaders, to sink differences and act in unison to rebuild the nation. "We earnestly appeal to the President, the Leader of the Opposition and all other leaders of political parties to form a government of national reconciliation," Gunasekera said. NCCSL President-elect N.S.M. Samaratunga said that the chamber had a comprehensive plan to assist affected SMEs in the country. |
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