Budget proposes low-interest Samurdhi loans for women-led households and rural businesses

Sri Lanka's 2027 Budget proposes a Rs. 12.5 billion group-lending programme for women-headed households through Samurdhi banks. According to the published report's report of the President's speech, borrowers could receive up to Rs. 1 million at an annual interest rate of 3 percent. The published report separately reports the same ceiling, rate and programme value.

This is a lending proposal, not a cash grant or an announcement that applications are already open. The reports describe a group-lending arrangement but do not provide the final application form, collateral rules, repayment schedule or a complete list of eligibility conditions. The maximum loan is a ceiling, not an entitlement for every household.

A separate Rs. 5 billion rural-enterprise scheme is proposed at 4 percent interest. The published report says the Treasury would cover the remaining interest cost. Entrepreneurs would need to provide employment to at least five Aswesuma welfare beneficiaries. Published reporting indicates a maximum loan of Rs. 5 million under that scheme. Those conditions belong to the rural-enterprise proposal and should not be confused with the women's household-loan scheme.

The wider Budget financing package includes interest subsidies and refinancing support for small and medium-sized firms. Reported national allocations, expected bank lending and individual loan ceilings measure different things; they are not amounts paid directly to each person. Borrowers will need the implementing banks' published rules before making a financial commitment.