Former combatants receive entrepreneurial training

The second workshop on entrepreneurial skills for former combatants concluded in Vavuniya on October 5.

The program was conducted by Business Consultancy Services which had conduced the previous workshop.

It was organised by the Bureau of the Commissioner General for Rehabilitation, with support from MP Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha's decentralised budget.

Thirty youngsters participated and seemed to absorb much of what was taught, as seen in the business plans they produced in the final session.

They were divided into five groups, all of which described production and marketing strategies for consumer items. - 5 Star Shop sold shirts, while the Royal Group concentrated on sarongs. Styles had slippers and Daittannik school bags (with caps thrown in free with the larger bags), with New Star dealing in bats.Over 20 of the trainees expressed a preference to work in the private sector, though they also noted that education and training also required private sector involvement.

Prof. Wijesinha gave a brief English lesson, using the primary level textbooks that were used for training conducted in the Ratnapura district under his decentralised budget.

The program was facilitated by the Vavuniya Government Agent who is now in the process of setting up micro-credit facilities with input from Prof Wijesinha's decentralised budget funds.