IDEAS logo ✦Contact
APPLY

How Are Project
Beneficiaries Selected?

IDEAS identifies and supports promising small and medium-scale entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka through a rigorous selection process involving interviews, site visits, and direct engagement. Awardees receive mentoring from IDEAS members and are monitored regularly to ensure progress and impact.

Project Process

CALL EOI

IDEAS solicits expressions of interest (EOI) from small and medium-scale entrepreneurial initiatives countrywide

SELECT

A rigorous and methodical process of shortlisting and appraisal of received applications leads to selecting a diverse group of entrepreneurs, both men and women, following telephone interviews, site visits, and direct contact.

AWARD

Successful awardees benefit from mentoring and guidance from designated IDEAS members.

MONITOR

Beneficiary projects are subject to regular monitoring and progress-reporting requirements.

APPLICATION FORMS

Choose Your Application Path

Use the relevant form based on your project stream. We review each submission carefully and follow up with the next steps.

Entrepreneur Development

Apply for Enterprise Support

For micro and small-scale entrepreneurs seeking financial support, mentoring, and development guidance.

Go to Enterprise Form

Community Empowerment

Apply for Community Initiatives

For projects in housing, water, sanitation, education, health, disaster relief, and other community priorities.

Go to Community Form

What We Do

IDEAS supports entrepreneurship and community empowerment across Sri Lanka. We provide funding, mentoring, and training for micro and small enterprises, while also backing vital community initiatives in housing, water, sanitation, education, health, and disaster relief. Our funding includes grants and interest-free loans to help both businesses and communities thrive.


Entrepreneur Development

We provide funding, mentoring, and training support to a diverse and geographically dispersed collection of entrepreneurial projects and initiatives throughout Sri Lanka.

Community Empowerment

We support community development initiatives including housing, water supply, sanitation, education, community health, and disaster relief.

Funding Modalities

  • Grants and interest-free, collateral-free loans for micro and small-scale enterprises.
  • Outright grants to critical and deserving community initiatives.

OUR TEAM

The people behind IDEAS

Founded by senior Sri Lankan professionals in 1996, our team continues to serve through multidisciplinary expertise, voluntary commitment, and community-centered action.

19-member core team

One-third of our team are women, and every member contributes accumulated knowledge, expertise, and experience to advance the mission of IDEAS.

Team Strength

19+

Professionals with cross-sector experience.

Women Representation

1/3

A strong and growing women-led contribution.

Service Model

1996

Voluntary commitment sustained over decades.

TEAM CARDS

Meet the people behind IDEAS

A quick view of the core team that supports micro enterprises and community initiatives through voluntary service and multidisciplinary experience.

Core Team

Shared leadership, long-term service

The IDEAS team combines public, private, and social sector expertise to support sustainable development across Sri Lanka.

Project Lead

Coordination

Guides project planning, stakeholder alignment, and on-ground delivery.

Community Lead

Engagement

Connects communities with the right support and implementation partners.

Finance Lead

Funding support

Ensures grants and lending activity are handled with care and transparency.

Operations

Field support

Supports day-to-day execution and follow-up across programs.

Advisor

Strategic guidance

Brings cross-sector insight to strengthen long-term impact and continuity.