News
US delivers $150 Mn to support community-based women entrepreneurs
The United States government disbursed $150 million in financing to the DFCC Bank on Nov 12 to support sustainable development of Sri Lankan community-based businesses. This is the largest loan disbursement by the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for Sri Lanka, and it is part of a $265 million commitment designed to support the local Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector, especially women-led enterprises in Sri Lanka, the US Embassy in Colombo said.
Through this partnership, the DFCC Bank will provide lending solutions in priority sectors and support Sri Lanka’s commitment to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly enhancing the country’s efforts to promote women entrepreneurship. A portion of the DFC loan will be directed towards MSMEs owned or led by Sri Lankan women to tackle one of the biggest issues faced by women entrepreneurs: limited access to finance.
Disbursing the funds, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Martin Kelly said: “Gender equity and equality are key aspects of the bold new global infrastructure initiative Build Back Better World (B3W) that President Biden and G7 partners launched earlier this year. We look forward to seeing this funding make a difference for Sri Lankan communities, for small and medium business, and for women entrepreneurs as we all recover from the pandemic.”
The U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is the development finance institution of the United States government, primarily responsible for providing and facilitating the financing of private development projects in countries around the world. This assistance is part of DFC’s 2X Women’s Initiative which has mobilised USD 7 billion in private sector investment toward women’s economic empowerment and aims to provide an additional USD 12 billion by 2025 to advance gender equity in emerging markets worldwide.
Veteran journalist Cyril Wimalasurendre passed away yesterday (21).
At the time of his demise, he was 96 years old and contributed to Upali Newspapers publications, mainly The Island and the Divaina.
Born on November 23, 1929, soft spoken Cyril was active in the media field for nearly 70 years. He initially served as a government teacher.
Starting his media career in the early 1950s, he served as an executive officer and journalist at Lake House for several decades.
Throughout his media career, he was honoured with numerous awards for his capabilities and was also a prominent social worker in the Kandy region.
Having joined Upali Newspapers from its inception in 1981 at the invitation of its founder late Mr. Upali Wijewardene, Cyril as he was affectionately known to several generations of journalists was also an expert in handling dramas in both Sinhala and English languages.
Wimalasurendre was the husband of retired school teacherIndrani Hinniappuhamy Gunathilake, the daughter of the prominent Kandy businessman H.G. Hinniappuhamy (Prince of Wales Businesses). He was the father of Lasanthi Wimalasurendre, Administrative Officer of the Sri Lanka Right to Information Commission, and Kanchana Wimalasurendre, a lecturer at ICBT Campus.
By S.K. Samaranayake
Senior Professor O. G. Dayaratna Banda has been appointed Director General of the National Institute of Education. He assumed duties on 20 April as its 15th DG.
Prior to this appointment, he served as the Senior Professor in Economics at the University of Peradeniya where he also served as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts.
He holds a PhD in Economics from the National University of Singapore. He is a widely published academic, having served as a Visiting Research Professor at the University of Waterloo and as a Visiting Senior Fellow at Transylvania University.
From: M.A. Kaleel
The Indian Navy Ship (INS) NIREEKSHAK arrived in Sri Lanka for Operational Turnaround (OTR) and a training visit on 21 Apr 26.
The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship at the port of Colombo in accordance with time-honoured naval traditions.
Commanded by, Commander Sailesh Kumar Tyagi, this Diving Support Vessel is set to conduct a training programme with the diving professionals of the Sri Lanka Navy.
The crew is also scheduled to participate in several activities organized by the Sri Lanka Navy and visit some tourist attractions within the country.
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