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. |