National Microfinance Study of Sri Lanka: Survey of Practices and ...

Local NGOS
4 NGOs were identified in the survey. A total of 209 S&C groups and 23,668
members were recorded.
Loans
A total number of 2,322 loans were issued in the year 2000. A total sum of SLR
8,688,845 was disbursed for the same period. Of the 3 NGOs who provided
adequate loans information, an average of SLR 3,7451.97 per loan can be
calculated. Information on interest rates charged on loans was not provided.
Savings
A total amount of SLR 9171622 in savings was identified. 2 NGOs provided
complete information of savings. An average of SLR 1,290.90 per individual
savings account can be calculated.
District Note
Until early 2001 the international community were not allowed to work with
NGOs in Jaffna. Six NGOs have recently been approved by the GA as partners
for international organisations in Jaffna. They include: HUDEC, TRRO, OOTRU,
SDF & Sarvodaya.
Sarvodaya in Jaffna is in the process of rebuilding active societies from scratch.
The office has recently secured a new partnership with UNICEF and is in the
second year of implementing a successful savings and credit project working with
150 ‘war widows’. The project is due to expand it outreach to 270 later in 2002.
CARE partnered with FCSs and worked directly with S&C groups as part of its
ongoing CIDA funded Food Security Project. Another project, CAB-J partners
with 10 TCCSs, 5 FCSs and initiated 5 savings and credit groups.
FORUT has the longest standing microfinance practitioner activity among the
INGOs in Jaffna. FORUT engage in microfinance in Point Pedro, Nagakovil and
into Palai where they have been working since the late 1980s.
GTZ assisted the formation of S&C groups through the rehabilitation activities of
the ongoing JRP project. These groups are in the process of being assimilated into
some of the approved NGOs.
UNDP partners microfinance activity with 10 MPCS in the Tellipali and Kayts &
Islands resettlement areas. UNDP are in the process of expanding their
microfinance to work with 7 more of the 25 active MPCSs in the peninsula.
UNHCR have partnered with the 14 Divisional Secretariats in the district as part
of their Micro Projects activity since 1997. UNHCR have provided funding for
income generation activities in the primary industries of agriculture, livestock,
fisheries, construction and light engineering as well service industries, crafts and
the specific targeting of income generation activities for women.