Indian credit-line to set up 14,000 home shops favouring SLPP supporters

Divisional Secretaries will be directed to issue necessary guidance to identify relevant women entrepreneurs on the recommendation of the electoral organiser of the ruling party, he added.

The whole project will be implemented under the guidance of the regional development committees on the instructions of the poverty alleviation task force.

The home shop will be maintained by the selected female entrepreneur in a building space of 200 - 400 square feet or renovating a suitable place at their homes, he disclosed

The recipients for this financial grant will be selected by considering their political affiliations with the aim of further strengthening the rural base of the ruling party, several village level social activists told the Business

Times.

The Finance Minister has already sent letters containing details of this programme to all electoral organisers of the ruling party requesting them to nominate the prospective recipients, they disclosed.

According to the plan, essential commodities being purchased from India with the use of the credit-line are to be distributed among these home shops in villages and shop owners will have to repay the value of goods after selling it while keeping a profit margin.

Further food coupons to the value Rs. 2,000 each are to be distributed among ruling party members to purchase food and non food items from these home shops which will be established after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.