President Rajapaksa launched the “Liya Isura” Special Women’s Loan Scheme. This is the first time that such a loan scheme has been introduced in Sri Lanka’s history to groom a generation of empowered entrepreneurial women.
The soft loan scheme was proposed by the President while presenting the 2014 budget. He took the initiative of launching it on this year’s International Women’s Day. The launching ceremony was held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium this morning. Loans were presented to 1500 women representing the entire island. 250 thousand rupees is being given as loans sans any interest and irrespective of the age of the women entrepreneurs.
A decision was taken to dish out 3200 million rupees as loan under the “Liya Isura” programme in the first stage. Expressing his views on the occasion the President pointed out that commemorating Women’s Day is nothing new to the country. Western countries commemorate Women’s Day on this day. But in Sri Lanka it is not so as the island commemorate women every day. Priority is given to the mother in Sri Lanka’s culture. As such the country should not talk about equal rights of men and women as in other countries, since women were always given priority in Sri Lankan society. It is this priority that should be talked about.
The President said that Sri Lanka’s history has also displayed to the world the priority given to women. Universal franchise was granted to Sri Lankan women before other countries did. It was also the same in the election of people’s representatives. There was no difference between men and women. It was Sri Lanka that produced the world’s first woman Prime Minister. This is an era in which fundamental rights is being discussed. He queried whether there were any inequalities in the granting of education and health.
Women have come forward in every activity concern social and economic affairs. Women are even occupying high positions in the country. They have also taken the lead in the business front. The women were summoned for a dialogue before the crafting of the 2014 budget. The issues the women encountered in procuring a loan were referred to at this dialogue. The President said they elaborated on bureaucracy and traditional surety system in securing loans. It was in this respect that an interest free loan scheme was proposed in the 2014 budget for the women to engage in a productive business.
This is a novel programme. The President wished that the women may gain strength to enter the world through this initiative.
Ministers Basil Rajapaksa and Tissa Karaliyadda, Parliamentarian Duminda Silva, Finance Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera and Provincial Development Bank Chairperson Keshala Jayawardena were among those present on the occasion.
Post a Comment