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Tuesday, 18 March 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) launched a publication titled ‘Hambantota Youth Business Program’ (HYBP) A story from southern Sri Lanka about youth, poverty, conflict, ambition, a prince and lives changed for good, which traces the lives of the beneficiaries of HYBP and captures the history and progress of HYBP, on 13 March in Colombo.
Past Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Dr. Anura Ekanayake, made the keynote address and commented on the book. He praised the HYBP for capturing the challenges and successes of the young entrepreneurs in a captivating manner and encouraged the HDCC to share their learning across the other regions in Sri Lanka.
British Council Country Director Keith Davies OBE said he was privileged to be present on the occasion since it marked a valuable partnership between the HDCC and organisations in Britain - the Princes Youth Business International and Manchester Solutions.
Royal Norwegian Embassy Head of Development Dagny Mjos and Youth Business Sri Lanka Chairman Samantha Ranatunga congratulated HDCC on this inspiring initiative and wished then well for the future.
VSO Country Representative Ruvanthi Sivapragasam commented on the strong and long term partnership between HDCC and VSO. She also stated that since the Hambantota District has become the focus of much attention in the recent months due to the Government’s massive development plans for the area, the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) with its excellent reputation within the district, within Sri Lanka and even internationally; is in a unique position to contribute significantly towards the development of the district
The Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) completed 20 years of service to the business community and young people of the Hambantota District in 2013. Since its inception HYBP has been one of HDCC’s flagship programs. HYBP was a direct outcome of this vision, providing training, mentoring, and start-up loans at subsidised interest rates for young people aged 18-35, who had tried and failed to obtain finance from more conventional sources. To date, the program has disbursed 720 loans totalling up to Rs. 50 million to 650 young entrepreneurs, who have received assistance from as many as 500 mentors, successful business people and professionals covering the entire district. The program has resulted in the creation of more than 1,300 new jobs for young people. HYBP was legally constituted in 1997 as an independent trust (the Hambantota Youth Business Trust) under the management of HDCC but with its own Board of Trustees. It was started in association with the Princes’ Youth Business International (YBI), in order to establish a program based on the principles of The Prince’s Trust and the Prince of Wales’ International Business Leaders Forum in the UK. In September 2007, HDCC collaborated with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) to form Youth Business Sri Lanka (YBSL), which is extending the program to other parts of the country. HYBP is being used as the model for this initiative.
With input and guidance from the staff of HYBP and HDCC, the book was edited and designed by VSO volunteer Katherine Gibney who worked with HDCC in 2013. The book was funded and supported throughout the project by the Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO). The project was initiated and envisioned by HDCC Past President Azmi Thassim.
The first five copies of the publication were presented to British Council Sri Lanka Country Director Keith Davies OBE, Royal Norwegian Embassy Head of Development Dagny Mjos, Embassy of the United States Political Officer Thomas Radke, Central Bank Deputy Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and Youth Business Sri Lanka Chairman Samantha Ranatunga.
