BPI extends support to Micro Enterprises in Ampara

Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCISL) Business for Peace Initiative (BPI) extended its helping hand to 42 micro enterprises and livelihoods in the Ampara district in a grant distribution ceremony held 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 milking cow’s to re-activate cottage industries.

In its efforts to rehabilitate and bring back to business 1000 conflict affected enterprises in the North and the East of Sri Lanka, Business for peace initiative (BPI) of FCCISL has supported more than 560 enterprises in Batticaloa, Kalmunai, Trincomalee, Echchalampattu, Muttur, Mannar, Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu up to now.

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 and 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. Speaking at the grant distribution ceremony, President of Ampara District Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture, Daya Gamage, promised further support for paddy farmers especially in terms of seed the paddy if there are further shortages.

He added 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 that normally do not get much direct attention from other programmes.

He further mentioned supporting small businesses would have a multiplier effect in humanitarian and development initiatives.

Speaking at length the Nayaka Thero of Tampitiya Rajamaha Viharaya explained how all communities in the area lived in absolute harmony supporting each other decades ago . He praised initiatives such as BPI, which support all people affected by the conflict regardless of their ethnicity, and religion.

Provincial Council members, Officials from Ampara District Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture and the officials from FCCISL participated at the grant distribution ceremony.