Livelihoods in Batticaloa East of Sri Lanka

The livelihoods program provides no interest grants to members of self-help groups to help them develop livelihoods and deepen their own savings Many districts of the North and East of Sri Lankan remain among the poorest in the country more than 10 years after the end of the war.

This is particularly true of the Badulla Road region of Batticaloa, where many women headed households struggles to support their families. No interest grants to rural households helps families to pursue income generating activities such as dairy, poultry, home gardening and small businesses.

Hundreds of families have been supported with grants that do not carry the risk of a debt trap and have helped to lift them out of poverty. The networking of these beneficiaries in self-help groups also helps them to build collective savings for themselves.