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

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

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Sustainability<br />

The long-term sustainability <strong>of</strong> present micr<strong>of</strong>inance schemes is <strong>of</strong> the<br />

greatest concern in <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong> at this time.<br />

Effective financial indicators <strong>and</strong> performance management systems are<br />

noticeable by their absence in the majority <strong>of</strong> micr<strong>of</strong>inance schemes surveyed.<br />

Most schemes lack sufficient managerial expertise in micr<strong>of</strong>inance.<br />

Most schemes do not use good <strong>and</strong> best practice st<strong>and</strong>ards <strong>of</strong> micr<strong>of</strong>inance.<br />

Financial management systems on the whole are cumbersome <strong>and</strong> are<br />

incapable <strong>of</strong> ensuring effective performance management.<br />

Risk is rarely monitored nor provision made for insurance.<br />

The Politicisation <strong>of</strong> <strong>Micr<strong>of</strong>inance</strong> Services<br />

Issues <strong>of</strong> ‘political capture’ <strong>of</strong> micr<strong>of</strong>inance services in <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong> is<br />

widespread, reaching through government managed programmes, the<br />

cooperative movement <strong>and</strong> the state controlled commercial banking sector.<br />

Many <strong>of</strong> the local NGOs are highly politicised especially in the North <strong>and</strong><br />

East region <strong>of</strong> the country.<br />

Nepotism, overstaffing, ‘favouritism’ <strong>and</strong> the financing <strong>of</strong> politically favoured<br />

projects inhibits the development <strong>of</strong> viable <strong>and</strong> business like micr<strong>of</strong>inance<br />

schemes – putting peoples savings at unnecessary risk.<br />

Debt forgiveness <strong>of</strong> mainly agricultural loans for political purposes skews the<br />

financial l<strong>and</strong>scape <strong>and</strong> de-stabilizes service providers that supply<br />

micr<strong>of</strong>inance services to the poor in <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong>.

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