Enterprise based village development project to boost entrepreneurship in North and East

Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) chaired by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has conducted an extensive survey with the District Secretaries of eight districts in Northern and Eastern provinces resulting in the design of an Enterprise Based Village Development Project (EBVDP).

On submission of the Cabinet Memorandum by the President as the Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the project last week and expected to be formally launched towards the end of March.

The project is designed to be implemented in Northern and Eastern Provinces, which have been affected the most due to the conflict and in need of an entrepreneurship life cycle to reap the benefits of untapped economic potential.

 In this context, the Enterprise Based Village Development project (EBVDP) is specifically identified as a priority for uplifting the living standards of conflict affected entrepreneurs including women headed households, war widows and unemployed youth. The project would span across 113 villages in North and East, assisting to uplift their income generation activities, through 1,785 selected entrepreneurs. Total value of the project is Rs. 446 million which will consist of both credit and grant components.

The loan scheme with a maximum value of individual loan as Rs. 250,000 is to be implemented through a state and a private bank. Out of the entire loan amount 25% of the total estimated cost of each individual business plan will be borne by the ONUR as a grant and interest of the loan component will be met by ONUR on behalf of the beneficiaries.

A session to create awareness about the work of ONUR and the reconciliation priorities of the Government was held for the Army Officers and other ranks at the Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna Auditorium, hosted by Major General Mahesh Senanayake (Chief of Staff – SL Army and Commander of SFHQ – Jaffna) and Division commanders. Madam Kumaratunga addressed the gathering along with the Governor of Northern Province Reginald Cooray.

Under the Coordinated District Development Project ​Official Opening of the Fisheries Auction Centre at Chulipuram West which was funded by ONUR, the main event was held at the Divisional Secretary’s office in Tellippalai. 

Inauguration of projects funded by ONUR including the construction work of the Primary Health Care Centre at Palai Veemankamam in Tellippalai, Coastal Area Salt Water Barrier bund at Ponnalai to safeguard well water from being contaminated, Renovation of Yaanaivilunthan Tank and Channel at Uduppiddy South, Construction of Gramadhaya Health Centre and other facilities at Polikandy and Polikandy South Rural Water Supply Scheme at Polikandy South.

And under the Village based Enterprise Development Project, inauguration of Mango Village Program in Tellippalai East, Pineapple Cultivation Program at Karanaivai West and Solar Panel and Inverter for Motor at Point Pedro were inaugurated.

Governor of Northern Province Reginald Cooray, Chief Minister C. Vigneswaran, State Minister of Child Affair Vijayakala Maheswaran, District Secretary of Jaffna V. Vethanayagam, Parliamentarians Mawai Senathirajah and E. Saravanabavan, Director General of ONUR M.S. Jayasinghe, Director of ONUR Danesh Casie Chetty and a host of elected officials and government officers took part in the proceedings.

In Ponnalai, the Chairperson of ONUR Kumaratunga had an informal Q&A session with local residents where an honest dialogue took place on various issues. The residents handed over letters of requests detailing some of the long standing issues which they deemed ONUR’s intervention was required. ​​

At the session with military officials, the main event in Telippalai and answering questions from residents in Ponnalai, she spoke of the immense progress the Government has made in bringing durable peace in Sri Lanka and efforts taken in building reconciliation. She presented facts on the amount of private land released by the military highlighting that majority of private land in Jaffna district have been given back to the civilians while the others are expected to be followed up soon under the guidance of the President. 

She also mentioned that the legislation related to Office for Missing Persons has been passed in parliament by this Government despite misinformation about the same by parties with vested interest. She also highlighted that accountability means being fair on both sides of the conflict and thus anyone who is proven to have murdered innocent civilians under the pretext of war for various other reasons will be held accountable through a due process.