Support for micro enterprises and livelihoods in Ampara

FCCISL’s Business for Peace Initiative (BPI) extended its helping hand to 42 micro enterprises and livelihoods in the Ampara district at a grant distribution ceremony at Tampitiya Rajamaha Vihara recently. The value of the grants distributed was over Rs. 900,000 for 42 beneficiaries who were mostly paddy farmers in the area.

They received seed paddy as a commodity grant to cultivate their paddy lands in the coming maha season. Other grants given, included spraying machines for farmers, electronic weighing scales for retail shops, sewing machines for women and also milch cows to re-activate cottage industries.

In its efforts to rehabilitate and bring back to business 1,000 conflict affected enterprises in the North and the East of Sri Lanka, Business for peace initiative (BPI ) of FCCISL supported more than 560 enterprises in Batticaloa, Kalmunai, Trincomalee, Echchalampattu, Mutur, Mannar, Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.

BPI of FCCISL is the only private sector lead initiative which has a comprehensive support package to rehabilitate micro and livelihood businesses from conflict affected north, east and border regions of Sri Lanka.

On top of the grants, mostly commodity and working capital to restart the business, all selected beneficiaries were given training on how to manage their business once the business is in operation, BPI also facilitates market linkage to sell their products.

Regional chambers of commerce and industries act as the implementing partners of BPI. President of the Ampara District Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture Daya Gamage promised further support for paddy farmers especially in terms of seed paddy if there are further shortages.

He said that the effort of FCCISL is commendable in launching such an initiative to look into the direct needs of micro and livelihood businesses in conflict affected areas who normally do not get much direct attention from other programs. Supporting small businesses will have a multiplier effect in humanitarian and development initiatives, he said.