25 June 2020 08:59 am
The Central Bank yesterday said it had so far approved 13, 861 loan applications under the Phase-I of Saubagya COVID-19 Renaissance Facility loan scheme, totaling Rs.27.9 billion.
Out of this the licensed banks have already disbursed Rs.14.8 billion among 7,274 affected businesses island-wide as of 24 June 2020.
These loans carry a concessional interest rate of 4 percent per annum with a grace period of 6-months and a repayment period of 24-months.
“Further, the Central Bank now stands ready to provide further Rs.120 billion at a concessionary rate of 1 percent (p.a.) to commercial banks for on-lending to the affected businesses at a concessionary rate of 4 percent (p.a.) under the Phase-II of the scheme,” a Central Bank statement said.
Having identified the urgent need of reviving the businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and thereby to promote economic activity in the country, the Central Bank and the government launched a novel refinance facility under the Saubagya (Prosperity) Loan Scheme, named Saubagya COVID-19 Renaissance Facility, as announced on 24 March 2020.