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| Monday,1 July 2002 |
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by A.W. Gunawardhana - Matara Central correspondent Those who are willing to start small scale and medium scale enterprises and are concerned without means to do so, will be provided with the necessary funds for the purpose under the Southern Province Rural Economic Advancement Project with the release of Twenty million Dollars as loans under the project said the Minister for Southern Development Ananda Kularatna when he addressed a seminar of businessmen and would be businessmen in the district of Matara held recently at Cultural Centre, Nupe - Matara. Minister Kularatna explained that out of the twenty million dollars, fifteen million will be released for medium enterprises and the rest will be released on small scale enterprises. Under this project Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts will be greatly benefitted. Payment of high rates of interests on loans drawn is a great burden for most of the entrepreneurs. Under the new scheme of granting loans, businessmen will be protected and made solid. There are 577 Grama Niladari Wasams (Divisions) in the district of Hambantota. A program has been drawn connecting all the Grama Niladari divisions in the district. Because of the proposed construction of the Hambantota Harbour, many thousands will get job opportunities, making their earnings lucrative. Chairman of the Hettigoda Group of Companies, Desabandu Victor Hettigoda said a great opportunity has dawned for the small traders to obtain loans at reasonable rates of interest to improve their trades and to others who are awaiting to start business afresh. Rs. 8,000 million are annually spent for the import of powdered milk. If the job of rearing herds of cattle could be started, money drained out on powdered milk could be saved. Grasslands of those countries that import powdered milk to Sri Lanka are covered with frost for six months. During that period only straw is used to feed the cattle. It is not the position in Sri Lanka. The group of companies owned by me are the exporters of Ayurvedic products to 19 foreign countries. In 1977 I started my career as a pedlar. My earning then for a day was Rs. 8 only. I did not have bellyful of meals during the day. I spent the night in a Buddhist Temple. If there is a will there is a way. I could not obtain a loan from a Bank either to improve my business or to buy a vehicle. Some business enterprises collapse in a short time due to bad management. I did not hear during my lifetime of releasing a vast sum of twenty million dollars to improve the Southern part of Sri Lanka. People of the area must come forward to obtain maximum benefits out of the sum so released. Additional Secretary of the Southern Development Authority P.N. Nandasena and Policy Planning Director Nuwan Kasiwatta also spoke. |
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