LOLC – Lanka ORIX Leasing Company PLC – Sri Lanka’s total financial solutions conglomerate has partnered yet again with The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) as the Financial Solutions Partner in the forthcoming Sri Lankan Entrepreneur of the Year -15th Annual Awards. The Entrepreneur Awards celebrates and recognizes the rising entrepreneurial spirit of the country, and is scheduled to be held in December later this year.

The event is widely perceived as the single most significant national event that has contributed to the upliftment of the local SME sector. The annual awards ceremony provides a platform for the country’s small and medium scale enterprising business community to demonstrate its successful contribution to the country’s socio-economic development for the year in review. Many of its past winners were owners of small scale business ventures, who have moved onto becoming well reputed, leading business men and women of the country. Some of their outstanding business performances have put Sri Lanka’s name at the top most position in the global business map.

“In the backdrop of the boom in the country’s economy, the need to develop and sustain the local entrepreneurial hero is of paramount importance.” said Mr. Kapila Jayawardena, Group Managing Director of the LOLC Group. “The local SME sector has been the catalyst for initiating and upholding the country’s socio-economic growth, and strengthening this sector is a vital and necessary component of both the national and private sector agenda. The local business magnates that our country proudly boasts of today were yesterday’s SMEs striving to reach the highest levels of excellence through willful strength and commitment. Recognizing the significant contribution rendered by them at a national platform will continue to pave the way for many young entrepreneurs to follow in the footsteps of their mentors.

The efforts taken by FCCISL to honour and strengthen our local entrepreneurs will further enable them to reach the highest levels of achievement possible.”

Commenting on the LOLC Group’s contribution towards developing the SME sector, Mr. Jayawardena added, “Since LOLC’s inception back in 1980, assisting and developing the rising SMEs has always been at the forefront of the Group’s mandate. Over the years, many a struggling entrepreneur has sought LOLC as the financial strength, which took upon their financial requirements and transformed them into success stories. To partner with FCCISL yet again, on a common platform, to reward these outstanding local business men and women is our way of rewarding the local business community.