The Ministry of Industries and Enterprise Development has launched a new cadre of ‘Relationship Officers’ under its Small Enterprise Development Division (SEDD). This initiative involves transforming existing Development Officers (DOs) and Enterprise Development Training Officers (EDTOs) into business advisors aligned with global standards, tasked with directly supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The inaugural phase of this National Entrepreneur Development Programme (EDP) was officially launched on 29 July at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI), under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Industries and Enterprise Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe. The first group of 53 officers from the Western Province will now undergo a specialised capacity-building programme designed to reshape their skills and mindset.

Focusing on experiential, hands-on learning through the ‘Learn by Doing’ approach, the training aims to produce practical, field-ready advisors capable of offering tailored guidance to entrepreneurs. The initiative targets the strengthening of the SME sector—widely recognised as the backbone of the national economy.

The programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), which has pledged an investment of around Rs 100 million. For the first phase alone, SLIM has allocated Rs 40 million, with its academic panel volunteering their expertise for training.

This is not a conventional training or academic qualification programme, but rather a strategic effort to bridge the gap between the government and local entrepreneurs through empowered, on-the-ground Relationship Officers.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and SLIM was signed during the event.

Among those present at the launch were Secretary to the Ministry Thilaka Jayasundara, SLIM Chairman Prof. Devasiri Jayanta, and SEDD Director Manoj Priyantha.