Marking a bold step in accelerating regional entrepreneurship and innovation, the David Pieris Group of Companies has awarded over Rs. 20 million in seed funding to promising young entrepreneurs from Sri Lanka’s Northern Province under its ‘Thalir’ Start Up Support Programme.
Held at North Gate Hotel, Jaffna, the Thalir Seed Funding Award Ceremony 2025 celebrated the next phase of the group’s impactful Northern Development Programme, reaffirming its long-term commitment to empowering grassroots innovation and economic growth in the region.
Launched just months ago, ‘Thalir’ meaning ‘sprout’ in Tamil symbolizes new beginnings, growth, and the nurturing of untapped potential. The initiative provides both capital and strategic mentorship to early-stage entrepreneurs with scalable ideas in sectors such as automotive, IT, logistics, agriculture, tourism, and exports.
Investing in Local Innovation
From over 100 applicants, 26 entrepreneurs were shortlisted for an intensive workshop evaluating innovation, impact, and scalability. Among them, four individuals received Rs. 500,000 each in grant funding, while three high potential start ups secured convertible investments totalling approximately Rs. 20 million a significant boost to help them take their ventures to the next level.
Leadership Remarks
Delivering the keynote address, Jeyaraj Sayanthan, Thalir Project Lead and Group CIO of David Pieris Holdings, said:
“The talent and entrepreneurial drive we’ve witnessed is extraordinary. Thalir is more than a funding initiative it’s a launchpad for sustainable, youth driven economic growth in the North.”
The event was graced by David Pieris Group Chairman and Managing Director, Rohana Dissanayake, as Chief Guest, alongside Jekhan Arulliah, renowned Northern entrepreneur and project consultant, and other senior company leadership.
A Broader Vision for Northern Growth
Thalir is the latest in a series of impactful initiatives launched by the David Pieris Group under its Northern Economic Empowerment Plan that began in 2021. These include:
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Establishing a modern automotive workshop in Jaffna
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Launching Sri Lanka’s first electric three wheeler taxi service under the e-Drive brand
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Opening a state of the art IT Development Centre in Jaffna
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Rolling out women’s empowerment programs, and
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Supporting education, clean water, sanitation, health, and sports projects in underserved communities
Through its financial services subsidiary, Assetline Finance Limited, the Group continues to serve SMEs, agriculture, and fishing communities in the Northern Province with tailored financing solutions.
Creating Impact Beyond Profits
The selected entrepreneurs will now enter a structured mentorship programme supported by industry leaders and subject matter experts, ensuring that their ventures are built on solid foundations and geared toward long term profitability and community impact.
With Thalir, David Pieris Group reinforces its commitment to inclusive development, youth empowerment, and regional transformation ensuring that Sri Lanka’s Northern Province becomes a thriving hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.