Strengthening and Promoting of SMEs in selected districts.

Figure 1 the SME holders who were 

participated at Matara Training Programme

 with Master Trainer from Cylone Chamber of 

Commerce on23rd Dec 2016

The National Human Resources Development Council (NHRDC) of Sri Lanka, a respective council coming under the Ministry of National Policies and Economic affairs targeted to empower the Small and Medium Industries through conducting training programmes in selected districts. Recently, three training programmes were held in Pollonnaruwa, Matara and Kandy District with the objective of enhancing of skills of SME entrepreneurs in Administration, Financial Managemnet, Market Identification,  Managerial Issues and Strategies and Policy Framework (Tax, Audit, Registration).

Figure 2 Due to distributing certificates 

to participants by Mrs. E.A.C. Vidanagamachchi, 

GA Matara on 23rd December 2015.

At the above mentioned training programmes 250 SME entrepreneurs were participated; 86 from Polonnaruwa, 94 from Matara and 70 from Nawalapittiya Divisional secretariat, Kandy. These entrepreneurs are engaged different business in the divisional and district level and engaged in self-employment projects including Industrial (Manufacturing: Bricks, Carpentry, Spice products, Tailoring, Construction), Services (Saloon, Garages, Technicians, Black Smith workshop, wholesale & retail trade, pawning center, welding, astrology, Restaurants, homes & car sales, rent a car) and Agriculture (Livestock, Plantation, Horticulture).At the end of the training programme Certificates had been distributed to the participants.

District	Male	Female	Total
Pollonnaruwa	21	65	86
Matara	37	57	94
Kandy, Nawalappitiya	20	50	70
Total	78	172	250

Figure 3 The training programme at Polonnaruwa 

with the Master Trainer from Ceylon Chamber 

of Commerce on 15th Dec 2016

Small and medium entrepreneurs encounter many difficulties when doing business such as financial management, access available services, networking with other institutes, marketing and promoting their products, and skills development with technical improvement. This training program provided a foundation to overcome these barriers.

Many entrepreneurs are unsuccessful due to inappropriate management of finance. This is one of the major causes for the failure of businesses in Sri Lanka. Most of the entrepreneurs who participated at the training were agreed that the training will add immense value to carry out the business efficiently and effectively.

The program targeted to promote a business by maintaining a decent financial control, tax management and legal issues when promoting a business. In addition, finding market opportunities and numerous aspects which considered when conducting training programme.

Particularly the following objectives achieved by the participants through this training programme.

1.   Develop skills in Administration, Financial, Market Identification, Process,  Managerial Issues, Strategies and Policy Framework (Tax, Audit, Registration)

2.   Developed a networking with local level as well as public and private sector service institutions to build capacities of SMEs (Eg: Chamber of Commerce, District and Divisional level SME officers and so on ).

3.   Build entrepreneurial culture by training, network and private sector engagement.

Figure 4 Divisional Secretary Mrs.Chamila is Distributing Certificates to the participants at the end of programme in Nawalapittiya, Kandy on 30th Dec 2015

Entrepreneurs expressed their gratitude to the NHRDC and District and divisional officers for conducting the SME development training program and requested to conduct such kind of programsme continually to develop their market, networking and other relevant skills.