By Senath Nanayakkare

Lower-end businesses and micro businesses are at a clear disadvantage because only the licenced banks have been authorised by existing laws to provide the Saubagya Covid – 19 Refinance Facility, which is much in demand in the difficult economic situation, Krishan Thilakaratne, Director/CEO, Commercial Leasing and Finance PLC told The Island yesterday.

“As a result, small-time business ope13rators have not been able to benefit from these funds,” he said.

“The Monetary Law Act does not include Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFIs) as a Participating Credit Institution (PCI). This restricts NBFIs from participating in schemes originated by the CBSL. The recent “Saubaghya” loan scheme is one such scheme in which only the Licenced Commercial Banks participated. This has deprived some SMEs, lower-end SMEs and Micro market clientele, of vital low cost finance. More granular distribution of “Saubaghya” funds through NBFIs to Micro and SME sectors would have created more economic impact and caused a meteoric rise in the country’s GDP. We hope the necessary laws would be amended to correct these fundamental issues and NBFIs are used as financial conduit in government’s developmental programmes in future,” he said.

The Central Bank under the instructions of the government introduced this refinance facility for businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, under the Saubagya (Prosperity) Loan Scheme

Given the high demand for the new facility, the allocated amount of Rs. 50 billion has been increased to Rs. 150 billion and the deadline to submit application has been extended up to August 31.

The regulator approved 3,985 new loan applications amounting to Rs.11,829 million, submitted by licensed banks under this facility during the period 13-23 July 2020. However, NBFIs which play a crucial role in the economy offering their services in urban as well as rural areas by granting micro loans allowing for growth of small entrepreneurs have been left out of this important loan scheme.