District Credit Programme

Mr. Upali Nissanka Gunasekara, Mayor of Badulla, speaking at the event said that it is a continuing problem for the youth, anywhere in Sri Lanka; to get financial assistance for their businesses due to procedural and collateral issues. Youth assistance programmes like YBSL does fulfill a valuable service in this regard not only improving the livelihood of the youth and their families, but also contributes to the development of the regions like Badulla which considered as less developed, he further added.

The Chief guest of the Kegalle event, Mr. D Abeywickrame, Additional District Secretary of Kegalle, mentioned that as a firm believer of private-public sector partnership for development, this kind of initiatives from the Chambers are welcome, and will receive government support as much as possible.

The Chairman of the Trincomalee Urban Council, Mr. Gowri Muhundan, pointed that youth employment is a need of the hour in the context of post conflict Sri Lanka and this kind of credit support to youth to start businesses, would make them as employment creators and thereby eliminate the factors that contributes to conflicts.

The Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Yalpanam, Mr. Poornachandran , highlighted that Jaffna youth has been excluded from engaging in the mainstream development activities, and through the YBSL programme, now they have a chance to uplift their own livelihoods and also be able to contribute the post conflict development in Jaffna.

Supported by CACCI Foundation funds, YBSL engaged central province chamber of Commerce to launch the YBSL programme in Kandy district. The beneficiaries were all women, who had undergone training under the GAP Inc/ CCC capacity building programme. Mr. Weeraratne of Kandy Bakehouse fame reminded the beneficiaries that when they started business they hardly had support and these women entrepreneurs are fortunate have YBSL supporting them with funds.