Over 40% of the Sri Lanka women workforce drop out after marriage or after having children and steps should be taken to reduce this, said Co- Founder and Chief Executive of zMessenger Jayomi Lokuliyana.
She was addressing the ‘creating a smart village for progressive economy’ event hosted by the Sarvodaya Development Finance (SDP) to open a dialogue with business leaders to explore the smart village concept to enable business growth and thereby, create a shared economic ecosystem in the country.
She said that the people who register a new business also need guidance but sadly it’s not available in Sri Lanka which leads to many business collapses and other issues. “in contrast when you register a business in the State of Victoria in Australia a dedicated uni set up to promote business will contact the new business holder and immediately create a business portal free of charge. In addition step by step training and guidance and marketing are offered FREE to the entrepreneur to ensure that the business progresses and reaches up to the next level.”
This dedicated institution will also assist the new business to be placed on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and others. Commenting on the Sri Lankan scenario she said that when the business is registered he or she is just let to swim in deep waters and all do not survive.
She also said that in Sri Lanka most of the novel systems such as Tele Medicine should go to the villages but this too is happening at a very slow pace. Chairman, Sarvodaya Development Finance Channa De Silva said that they too want more village entrepreneurs to reach the next level and are engaged in a series of projects to support them to raise capital through the Empower Board of the Colombo Stock Exchange and further assist them to move to the higher Board. Former Tea Board Chairman and Founder Chairperson, Mother Sri Lanka Janaki Kuruppu said that her foundation wants to create 50 top rural women entrepreneurs in five years. “I also oppose giving handouts to women as then they tend to depend on it.” She also said it’s still the middle man in the value chain that makes the biggest profits and steps should be taken to create a ‘digital middle man’. (SS)
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