May 14, Colombo: Ninety micro enterprises and livelihoods in bordering villages in Polonnaruwa district which have being badly affected as result of the conflict situation received a support package from FCCISL's Business for Peace Initiative (BPI) to reactivate their business/livelihood activities.

Some of the beneficiaries were from worst affected villages such as Palliyagodella, Namalgama and Welikanda. Beneficiaries included 33 micro enterprises and 57 livelihoods with 71 males and 19 females which represented 23 Muslims, 22 Tamils and 45 Sinhalese. The total support package was over Rs.3.08 million. Other than the commodities for fixed capital and working capital grants, all beneficiaries were given training on how to manage their businesses.

Movement of people and transportation of goods was one of the major problems faced by the people living in these areas. BPI support grant package for these enterprises included 57 bicycles 33 motorcycles 11 water pumps 90 electronic weighing scales, on top of working capital grants.

In its efforts to rehabilitate and bring back to business 1,000 conflict affected enterprises in the North and the East and bordering villages of Sri Lanka, Business for Peace Initiative (BPI ) of FCCISL has now assisted 659 enterprises and livelihoods to the value of Rs.24.17 Million supported by the district chambers in respective areas. Earlier BPI supported livelihoods and micro enterprises in Batticaloa, Kalmunai, Trincomalee, Echchalampattu, Muttur, Mannar, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Ampara.