TVS CEO, Sampath Agalawatta |
Private sector joins Divi Neguma to end poverty
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa has identified
elimination of poverty and ensuring social justice to 1.8 million people
living below the poverty line as the biggest challenge Sri Lanka is
facing.
This can be done only by strengthening them economically and helping
them to stand on their own feet. The way to reach this goal and make Sri
Lanka a poverty-free land by 2016 is through self-employment
opportunities rather than the traditional way of giving them jobs,
according to him.
Minister Basil Rajapaksa said so at a ceremony held at Hyde Park,
Colombo on Monday in connection with the distribution of 250
three-wheelers among self-employed persons in accordance with the
Mahinda Chinthana Vision. The event was organized by the Self-Employed
Persons Federation. Among the large crowd that attended the meeting were
the Association’s President and Colombo Municipal Councillor Mahinda
Kahandagamage and TVS Lanka CEO Sampath Agalawatte.
Minister Rajapaksa driving a Three Wheeler |
The Self Employment Federation expects to distribute a total of 1,000
three wheelers within the course of this year. The 50 vehicles were
distributed under the third stage of the programme to which TVS Lanka
and Orient Finance contributed. To date, the Association has distributed
650 three wheelers. Last December TVS Lanka provided 103 of them each
worth Rs.460,000 (market value).
There are nearly 500,000 three-wheeler drivers in the country, while
those providing spares and other services are 92,000.
The number of those who directly benefit from this business by way of
employment is 600,000. The indirect beneficiaries are nearly 2.5
million. According to the Self-Employed Persons Association, priority
will be given to persons driving rented three wheelers for which they
have to pay around Rs.500 per day to the owner. Seventy-one percent of
those driving three-wheeler taxis in Sri Lanka own them. The balance 29
percent drive rented vehicles.
Fixing meters to every three wheeler distributed is compulsory.
Special identity cards will be given to each of the beneficiaries so
that the self-respect of the owner-drivers and the safety of passengers
will be ensured.
Section of the crowd at the event |
A recipient receiving the key to a three Wheeler |
Speaking further at the event Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that
although the government intervened initially to distribute three
wheelers at the first stage, he was happy that the private sector has
now taken over the task. He added that this would help low income groups
to stand on their own feet and live in society with dignity. He
appreciated the assistance given by the Self-Employed Persons Federation
in this connection.
Minister Basil Rajapaksa recalled that the self-employment programme
was launched jointly by the Economic Development Ministry and vehicles
were provided under the first stage to do mobile marketing.
Today not only have various types of vehicles been distributed for
self-employment purposes, but the necessary environment has also been
created.
This has enabled them to go among the people and directly provide the
services they need. After ending terrorism Sri Lanka is now moving
towards new economic goals centered on the individual and family.
It is the President’s vision that we should rise in the world as a
country by raising the living standards of families, thereby ensuring
village development, provincial development and eventually national
development. The minister expressed confidence that this programme
launched in accordance with the Mahinda Chinthana Vision would pave the
way for the people to enjoy greater prosperity in the years to come.
Self-Employed Persons Federation's President and Municipal Councilor
Mahinda Kahanda Gamage, State Resources and Enterprise Development
Ministry Secretary Dr. Willie Gamage, Industry and Commerce Ministry
Secretary Anura Siriwardena, TVS Lanka General Manager A. Azoz, Sales
Manager Chitral Anthony and many members of Self-Employed Persons
Federation were present at the event. |