10 young entrepreneurs get Bank of Ceylon ‘Thurunu Diriya’ loans

‘Thurunu Diriya’ a special loan scheme which was launched by the Bank of Ceylon (BOC) as a result of discussions the Policy Development Office (PDO) of the Prime Minister’s Office, Small Enterprises Development Division (SEDD) and the Central Program Management Unit (CPMU) of the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs had with BOC.

This aims at providing special loan scheme for professionally qualified young entrepreneurs under the age of 35 years who already have businesses. This will assist them to expand and stabilise their businesses, which will contribute to the economic development of the country.

Awareness programs have been conducted by the Small-Scale Development Divisions which are under the District Secretariats to identify the potential young entrepreneurs. 

Prime Minister’s Office said 904 beneficiaries who are eligible for the above loan scheme have already been selected from the large amount of loan applications received by the BOC.

During the loan application period these beneficiaries can seek assistance from field officers who are attached to the Divisional secretariats to prepare business plans and other required documentations. 366 business plans have already been handed over to the Divisional secretariats while 102 out of them have been handed over to the BOC.

E.D.A.T. Gunadasa of Ankumbura BOC branch became the first entrepreneur ever to receive the “Thurunu Diriya” loan and nine other young entrepreneurs have already received this loan scheme followed by him. Granting of the rest of the loans for the selected beneficiaries are now in process. 

Further details of this loan scheme can be obtained from the nearest Bank of Ceylon branch or the Divisional Secretariat office.