Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2017-02-14

"Swashakthi" National Programme

- A Programme known as the "Swashakthi" National Programme will be implemented by the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs in collaboration with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka towards the creation of One million job opportunities. The purpose of this programme is to provide credit facilities through the Rural Development Banks and the Commercial Banks for the promotion of creating 25,000 new enterprises with the objective of generating employment in the field of Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs. In the process of granting financial facilities subject to a maximum of Rs.250,000/-, having considered the efficacy of the business plans, it is proposed to grant a loan of Rs.200,000/- along with a financial grant of Rs.50,000/- for the new entrepreneurs. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe, the Prime Minister, in his capacity as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, to implement this Loan/Grant Scheme through the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet.