Government to settle debt of women in drought-affected areas

 
The Government will settle micro finance loans up to Rs. 100,000 given to women who have failed to pay their dues for three months as of June 31 in 12 drought-affected districts.
 
This assurance was given by Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera at media conference in Colombo on Thursday.  
 
These loans were given by finance companies and micro finance institutions who are members of the Lanka Micro Finance Practitioners Association.
 
This relief scheme will cover around 75,000 women in 12 districts; he said adding that finance companies and micro finance institutions should send list of relief recipients and their details by the end of this month.
 
These lists will be verified by respective Government Agents and it will be submitted to the Finance Ministry thereafter.
 
The Ministry will then finalise the lists and direct the finance companies and micro finance institutions to write off the loans.
 
The Treasury will give an assurance that the capital will be paid to them in bi-annual installments in three years, he said adding that interest will also be written off by finance companies and micro finance companies.(Bandula)