Benefiting from Enterprise Sri Lanka
Enterprise Sri Lanka could be the most valuable development programme any government has introduced so far. The problem with our country is all the valuable ideas become ineffective at the implementation stage. The first example that comes to my mind is an educational step that the government took in 1974 to introduce pre- vocational studies to schools. There were subjects like pottery and carpentry for schools. Officials may have thought these were useful subjects to make learning more interesting. However I came across only one carpenter who said he learnt the craft from school.
What are the problems when a new project is introduced? The first stage is whether the message is very clear. If it is clear, then one needs to see whether the proposed model matches the requirement.
When I heard about the new facility I was interested in getting such a loan. So I went to the nearest bank in Kottawa and was looking for the Enterprises Sri Lanka counter. This was on July 16 and I had to wait for 15 minutes to meet the bank officer. I spoke to her and she referred me to the manager. I asked her for an application form but they didn't have any such document. Anyway they examined my case and said my requirement doesn't suit this scheme and they can only offer a normal loan at 14.5 per cent interest.
I had been manufacturing garments on a small scale since 1987 and in 2000 I was doing sub contracts for leading factories. My business collapsed after the US crisis in 9/ 11 because I faced order problems and couldn't continue as the few small scale orders were not enough and I faced cash problems to settle my overheads.
The biggest problem the garment industry is facing today is finding skilled employees. Furthermore small businesses involved in manufacturing garments for the local market are totally ignored. If this business is properly handled there will be Sri Lankan brands emerging in the future. Think of the Pamunuwa garments centre (at Maharagama) for example where thousands of people are involved in garments in surrounding areas. I also see foreigners coming there. We have to improve this centre and try to export garments to India and Maldives with offered trade facilities. My suggestion is to link up local market industries with the main garment industry.
There are many other sectors that also can be improved. For instance, the fisheries industries can be facilitated through the new scheme. Train people with an education and middle class background who are capable of taking responsibility and handling larger fishing boats with a 0 per cent interest for groups of around 15 persons to benefit with bank loans. These 15 persons can work on a shift basis and the vessel can operate 24/ 7. This same theory can be applied to the bus transport industry.
Hope the authorities consider these suggestions. Ameer Hisham
Colombo