* Sri Lankan President meets women entrepreneurs of SME sector to discuss budget
Fri, Sep 28, 2012, 11:43 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Sept 28, Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Friday met with the women entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka's Small and Medium Enterprises sector in order to solicit their views and proposals for the 2013 budget preparations.

The businesswomen made submissions on the problems they encounter in their trades and what they anticipate from next year's budget.

The meeting focused on securing financial facilities from banks, creating a market for their products and the establishment of sales outlets at the regional level.

Women farmers presented a series of proposals to the President on how their contribution could be profitably used for the development of the country.

According to the Presidential Media Unit several key proposals were submitted during today's meeting in order to make the 2013 budget proposal a success.

Many of them pointed out the difficulties they have such as lack of market, storage and cool room facilities for their products and in obtaining quality standards for their products.

Many female entrepreneurs representing all provinces, notably from Northern and Eastern Provinces participated in the meeting.

The women from the war-battered provinces expressed their gratitude to the President for creating an environment for them to contribute to the development.

Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Geethanjana Gunawardena, Secretary of the Finance and Planning Ministry Dr. P. B. Jayasundera, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, parliamentarians, Secretaries of ministries and government officials also participated in the meeting.

(Photos by Chandana Perera)

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