BOC Mithuru Pola helps micro entrepreneurs

The Bank of Ceylon (BOC) organised a rural community development exhibition and sale centres during the Avurudu season in four main regions in support of the government’s poverty alleviation and enterprise development strategy.

Named ‘BOC Mithuru’ micro development project, the three-day fairs were held in April in Kilinochchi, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura and Welimada. Organised under the Bank’s micro-finance development program, these exhibition and sales centres enabled over 250 micro entrepreneurs to enhance their network within the community, develop their value chain, establish market links and earn a quick income during the Avurudu season.

Participants also got a valuable feedback on their products enabling them to come up with fresh ideas and build more confidence about future prospects, a Bank official said. These exhibitions and sales centres accommodated small-scale manufacturers of food and beverage, footware, garments, handcrafted ornaments, jewellery and household items.

One of the participants, K. Ariyawathie from Yaya 4, Rambewa Wana Ekamuthu Mithuru development society said she was confident that she could build a good market for her products through the information and knowledge she gathered and looks forward to put her plans into action.

‘BOC Mithuru’ has disbursed Rs. 2 billion under the Poverty alleviation Micro Finance Project (PAMP) and over Rs. 5 billion under other micro finance projects.