Financial Times

RADA and FCCISL in key Back-to-Business deal
The RADA (Reconstruction and Development Agency and formerly TAFREN), set up by the government after the tsunami, and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) signed an MoU last week for greater utilization of the Back to Business Project and its network to expedite rehabilitation of tsunami affected enterprises.

Signatories to the MoU were Saliya Wickramasuriya, Chief Operating Officer of RADA and Nawaz Rajabdeen, President of FCCISL. RADA coordinates and assists government agencies and institutions in reconstruction and rehabilitation of the tsunami affected regions. FCCISL is one of the foremost private sector organisations involved in the rehabilitation and reconstruction effort of the government. It has launched a massive rehabilitation programme termed “Back to Business” to reactivate affected SMEs in tsunami ravaged areas.

Under the MoU, the FCCISL will allow RADA to make use of the facilities available in the District Help Desks located in the respective Partnering Chambers in tsunami affected districts to coordinate its functions in the rehabilitation of affected SMEs under the “Back to Business Project.”
It will forward monthly Progress Reports to RADA regarding the general progress of the project as well as the progress with regard to the cases referred to Help Desks by RADA.

It will grant RADA access to the online monitoring system of the FCCISL Back to Business Project in respect of these operations when such systems are in place.

In return RADA will strongly support and cooperate with the FCCISL in carrying out SMEs rehabilitation work through the Help Desks of the latter located in the respective District Chambers of the Tsunami affected areas.

It will recognize FCCISL as a lead private sector organisation which works in partnership with the RADA in the rehabilitation effort of SMEs in the affected area. These are among a range of benefits that both organizations will share in helping tsunami affected organizations across Sri Lanka.

Kosala Wickramanayake, Snr. Vice President-FCCISL, Tissa Jayaweera, Vice President-FCCISL, Samantha Abeywickrama, Secretary General-FCCISL and Sam Stembo, Project Director (Back to Business Project) of FCCISL and for RADA - Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa, Director Livelihood, W.M.B.S. Nissanka , National Livelihood Programme Officer and Dr. M Hanifa, Livelihood Economic Recovery Officer were also present at the ceremony.

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