Nucleus holds Jaffna Day

Yasaratne GAMAGE

The Nucleus Financial Forum 2011 Jaffna Day was held recently at Jaffna Weerasingham Hall.

Local entrepreneurs and livelihood groups met financial service providers and suppliers of other products and services at the occasion which had been organized by the Nucleus Foundation (NF).

NF is a non-profit association working together with German Development Cooperation (GTZ) and the European Commission to facilitate and promote micro, small and medium scale enterprises in the North and the East. Over 500 local entrepreneurs and representatives from prominent Government and private banks in Jaffna attended the occasion. Jaffna Security Forces Headquarters Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, the guest of honour of the event, NF Director Board Member Dave Maurice, Local Government Secretary, R Vijayaluxmi attended the event.

Delivering welcome and introductory speech, Maurice said that the motive of organizing a project of this nature was to enhance the economy of small scale entrepreneurs by linking them with financial and other service providers.

He said that special loan schemes were to be introduced to small groups of entrepreneurs working on similar industries by NF in addition to facilitating required market and technical training to them.

Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe appreciated the role of the Nucleus Foundation in bringing small entrepreneurs and financial and other service providers together to educate and encourage those who are engaged in micro business activities in Jaffna through which the economy at domestic and district level is promoted.

The Foundation has already conducted a similar programme in Vavuniya District and has planned to extend their service to Batticaloa, Mannar and Ampara Districts too.