3. Ms. Chandra Pathmini - Sri Lanka Technical Research Policy Council Women abandon their employment after the marriage and some of them are engaged in self-employment. Most of them leave their jobs to look after their children. Since no policies have been compiled in the country with regard to pre - childhood development, such policies should be compiled. 4. Mr.Thenu Rankoth 70% of educated women are not engaged in employment, thereby they are beleaguered in traditional, cultural and ethical surroundings. The problem exists whether we should continue to take these manacles from generation to generation? 5. Ms. Sriyah Dayawansa – Director, Regional Dev. Dept., Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Around 85% of women have been granted with loans under PAMP loan scheme introduced to alleviate poverty. Further, the Central Bank, in collaboration with various other special institutions, conducts Island wide programmes pertaining to statutory Training, financial transactions and skill development. The Swashakthi National Loan Scheme, a novel scheme introduced by the Government is being presently implemented in a grand scale. Loans subject to a maximum of Rs. 250,000.00 are being granted with an annual interest rate of 5%. Here, a grant subject to a maximum of Rs. 50,000.00 is offered on non-refundable basis. Instructions have been issued to give special attention to women under his loan scheme. Wide publicity is being given in the press and a sum of Rs. 1000 million has been set apart by the government and it is expected to raise it to Rs. 4,000 Million. Loans could be obtained through 17 banks in the Island. Instructions with regard to the loan scheme could be obtained over the phone as well through email. Further details could be obtained from the Regional Dev. Dept., Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Affairs. Ms.K.T.Somalatha who aired her views regarding the said Swashakthi Loan Scheme, stated that there is a problem with regard to the flowing of this scheme to rural areas and there are difficulties in accessing for these facilities. There are problems with regard to the telephone numbers given in the advertisements. There is no instant response to the telephone calls. Rural folks have no knowledge in dealing with e-mail. Therefore, a simple system has to be introduced in order for this scheme to reach village level. 6. Ms.Chamila Thusari - Da Bindu Ekathuwa, Free Trade Zone She stated that even though the GSP+ concession has been made available for the apparel sector, derived benefits have not been accrued to the workers. Further, woman workers engaged in employment at apparel factories in the North and the East are being subjected to various types of harassment and violation of labour laws in an increased manner. 10 10