| Following the worst ever natural
disaster in Sri Lankan history that devastated the coastal belt
of Sri Lanka on 26th December 2004, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
(CCC) provided immediate relief support to the people affected
in the areas in the form of dry rations, clothes and medicines
with the help of the Chamber members. Understanding
the difficulties faced by government authorities in providing
the basic amenities to over one million people rendered homeless
by the tsunami, living in over 800 camps, several members
of the Chamber stepped in to adopt IDP camps. Through a private/government
sector partnership, these private sector organizations brought
several IDP camps to a reasonable and habitable state, with
organized relief being provided to the refugees.
In order to fulfil the medium and long-term
rehabilitation needs, the CCC, in association with the Employers
Federation of Ceylon (EFC) established a ‘National Disaster
Relief and Rehabilitation Fund’, and launched the website
www.sossrilanka.org
to solicit the support of its network partners, both locally
and overseas.
Financial Assistance to Affected Enterprises
CCC Funded Micro Entrepreneurs
Assisting Scheme
Focussing on long-term rehabilitation of people and businesses
affected by the Tsunami, the CCC initiated a financial assistance
scheme to revive micro entrepreneurs in the affected areas
using the funds received through the National Disaster Relief
and Rehabilitation Fund.
GAP Inc. Funded Women Entrepreneurs Assisting Scheme
GAP Inc., International Buying Office in USA with the assistance
of the CCC extended the Micro Entrepreneurs Assisting Scheme
to women entrepreneurs in the Galle District.
Small Business Recapitalization Project - Asia Foundation
The Asia Foundation (AF) implemented the “Small Business
Recapitalization (SBR) Project,” with financial assistance
received from the Give2Asia Programme to assist tsunami affected
micro and small entrepreneurs to restart their businesses.
The CCC extended their support to the Asia Foundation and
Give2Asia bringing with it additional benefits through the
strong relationship built during the micro credit scheme and
its operational mechanism.
Technical Assistance to Affected Enterprises
In collaboration with Ernst &
Young Sri Lanka Office, the CCC has set up “Help Desks”
at the offices of Ernst & Young in the districts of Kalutara,
Galle, Matara and Hambantota to assist businesses affected
by tsunami. The “Help Desks” are manned by experienced
bankers offering business consultation and counselling, financial
advice, document processing assistance and assistance in submission
of loan applications on a “no fee basis”. |
|
