Central Bank has disbursed Rs179 billion to provide immediate financial support for small and medium-enterprises (SMEs), which have been severely affected by the corona virus disease up to last month,Governor of the Bank Prof. Professor W. D. Lakshman disclosed.
Answering a question raised at the virtual Press Conference on Monetary Policy Review - November 2020 today he noted that these refinance facilities have been provided through respective participatory banks at concessionary interest rate to majority of applicants.
The balance number of applicants will be provided with the loan facility soon CB sources said without indicating the exact number. . ,
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $165 million loan to Sri Lanka to wxtend immediate financial assistance for Covids-19 hit SMEs.
This financing facility amounting to around Rs 30 billion will be disbursed mainly among underserved SMEs, including businesses led by women and tea smallholders, Deputy Governor K. M. Mahinda Siriwardana said.
The new financing will build on the ongoing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Line of Credit Project, which ADB approved in 2016 to strengthen SMEs’ access to finance, official sources revealed.(BS)
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