Rs.797 million loan provided by the Asian Development Bank to small and medium scale entrepreneurs

Minister of Plantation Dr. Ramesh Pathirana instructed the state banks to pay more attention to the loans provided by the Asian Development Bank to small and medium scale tea estate owners.
He said that the ministry has received information that small and medium scale tea estate owners are inconvenienced in the event of obtaining loans.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided a loan of Rs. 797 million to the government to uplift small and medium scale tea estate owners and 10 state banks will provide such loans to small and medium scale tea estate owners.
He had a discussion at the Ministry Auditorium in Sethsiripaya, Battaramulla to review its progress.


Speaking further the Minister stated as follows.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided a loan of Rs. 797 million to the Ministry of Plantation for the uplift of small and medium scale tea estate owners. Ten state banks provide these loans to small and medium scale tea estate owners.
We have received information that when small and medium scale tea estate owners go to obtain loans, the banks inform the tea estate owners about their loan schemes stating that the loans have been disbursed. Due to this the tea estate owners are inconvenienced. We request the banks to provide the relevant loans without inconveniencing those people.
About 75% of small and medium scale tea estate owners play a significant role in strengthening the economy of this country. We should appreciate it. The government wants to further strengthen these small and medium scale tea estate owners.


The Minister also instructed the officials to give priority to small and medium scale tea estate owners and take necessary steps to implement this loan.
Commenting on this, the Minister said that the Minister instructed the state banks to pay full attention to the small and medium scale tea estate owners in providing loans and to approve the loan installments that are affordable to those tea estate owners.
Kanaka Herath, State Minister and Ravindra Hewawitharana, Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation, Ministry officials and senior officials of state banks also participated in the discussion.