A special coordination meeting focused on expediting business development and economic growth in the Northern Province was held today – on Tuesday, 07 April 2026, at 3:00 PM at the Governor’s Secretariat Conference Hall in Jaffna, under the chairmanship of the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan.
The primary objective of this meeting was to establish strong coordination among government, private sector, financial, and development institutions in order to enhance the province’s economic cycle. In particular, extensive discussions were held on identifying the challenges faced by small and medium-scale entrepreneurs and providing appropriate solutions.
During the discussions, several factors hindering the development of a healthy business environment in the province were highlighted.
It was pointed out that data related to the province’s resources and businesses are not being collected and organized in a systematic and structured manner.
The gap between the banking sector and local entrepreneurs was also discussed in depth, as it creates significant difficulties for entrepreneurs in accessing financial support.
The need to formulate a dedicated “Northern Province Business Policy” to ensure economic stability in the province was strongly emphasized.
At the conclusion of the meeting, three special subcommittees were appointed to identify practical solutions to the challenges discussed and to formulate future plans:
>> A committee to systematically collect and organize data related to trade, resources, and entrepreneurship in the province.
>> A committee to determine priority sectors for development initiatives in the Northern Province.
>> A committee to proactively study potential challenges that entrepreneurs in the Northern Province may face due to current global economic and political conditions, and to develop strategies to mitigate them.
The meeting was attended by senior provincial government officials, representatives from banks and financial institutions, and representatives from business enterprises, all of whom shared constructive ideas toward the economic revival of the Northern Province.
