Recognized senior journalists, Artistes and the writers received vehicle loan from H.E. the President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a simple ceremony at Temple Trees yesterday afternoon.
Over five hundred recipients have been selected for this loan scheme to be implemented in three stages and the first phase was inaugurated yesterday. In addition to that 500 laptops will also be distributed among the working journalists free of charge.
This proposal was originally mooted by the President through the budget – 2012 to implement a relief loan scheme for senior Journalists, Artists and Authors to purchase motor vehicles and to form a fund for their welfare is being implemented.
Accordingly, Senior Journalists, Artists and writers are now able to obtain a maximum amount of Rs. 1,200,000/- as an interest free loan from the state banks to purchase cars or vans. If the value of the vehicle exceeds the limit of Rs. 1,200,000/- the balance can be obtained from the relevant state bank under normal interest rates. The Treasury will grant the interest due to the state banks for the loan amount of Rs.1,200,000/-.
Secretary, Ministry of Mass media and Information took speedy measures to grant vehicle loans to the journalists and form a welfare fund for them under the first phase of the loan scheme.
Ministry of Culture and the Arts coordinated in this effort to select Artistes under this scheme.