Every entrepreneur dreams to be the most successful businessman and to reach the peak in his own business. The Thurunu Diriya loan scheme of the Bank of Ceylon (BoC) has given many opportunities to young and enthusiastic entrepreneurs for strengthening their personal lives as well as the national economy. This is a story of such a young female entrepreneur who received a Thurunu Diriya loan.
Nisansala Kumudu, is a self-employed 27-year-old who commenced her small-scale business, ‘Ohara Bookshop’ in 2015.
She completed her primary and secondary education at Tholabugolla Maha Vidayalaya, Awariyapathaha but was not qualified to enter university. She then followed an external degree program at the University of Kelaniya but had to discontinue studies due to financial constraints. She was granted a scholarship by Informact Computer Institute, Galewela to follow a computer course and completed same up to NVQ level 3. She was then offered work as a trainee advisor at the same insititute. Nisansala is someone who dreams big. She wanted to start a business of her own.
At her time of need, she was informed about Thurunu Diriya by the Youth Council Officer, Pallepola, Abeyrathna.
During the past four years she had conducted her business with minimum infrastructure facilities due to financial difficulties.
“I was in need of financial assistance and wanted to develop my business when I got to know that the interest rate for Thurunu Diriya was comparatively low. So I applied for a loan and successfully commenced the business in December 2018,” she said.
She received Rs. 500,000 in October 2018 and purchased a few printing machines and stationery and expects to expand the business into a printing press.
The Thurunu diriya loan scheme was launched by Bank of Ceylon in collaboration with the Policy Development Office (PDO) of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Central Program Management Unit (CPMU) and the Small Enterprises Development Division (SEDD) as a part of the Government’s Enterprise Sri Lanka program, specifically targeted at qualified young professional entrepreneurs.
The Bank of Ceylon Thurunu Diriya loan scheme provides loans without a guarantor and collateral or with lenient guarantor conditions for young entrepreneurs under 40 years of age, who possess a degree or a recognized vocational certificate and in business for not less than three years.
Details of the loan scheme can be obtained from Bank of Ceylon branches and the Divisional Secretariats island-wide.
News release from the Policy Development Office of the Prime Minister’s Office