In a milestone celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship and regional empowerment, the David Pieris
Group awarded over Rs. 20 million in seed funding to selected young entrepreneurs at the Thalir Seed
Funding Award Ceremony 2025, held at the North Gate Hotel in Jaffna.
This event marked the next phase of the Group’s visionary ‘Thalir’ initiative, launched just a few months
ago to uplift aspiring entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka’s Northern Region under the Northern Development
Programme of David Pieris Group.
Meaning “sprout” in Tamil, Thalir reflects the spirit of growth and fresh beginnings—an apt symbol for
the energy and ambition of the young business minds now poised to make their mark. Designed to
provide both capital and mentorship, the programme aims to support scalable business ventures across
key sectors including automotive, logistics, information technology, agriculture, tourism and exports.
The ceremony saw four individuals each receiving grants of Rs. 500,000 to kickstart their business ideas,
while three standout ventures secured convertible funding totaling approximately Rs. 20 million. These
entrepreneurs were selected from over 100 applicants, with 26 shortlisted for the second-round
workshop designed to assess project viability, innovation and community impact.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Jeyaraj Sayanthan, Project Lead – Thalir and Group Chief Information Officer
of David Pieris Holdings (Private) Limited, noted, “We were impressed by the sheer creativity and
commitment shown by these young visionaries. Thalir is not just a funding programme—it’s a platform
to inspire long-term economic growth in the North through sustainable, forward-thinking
entrepreneurship.”
The occasion was graced by Mr. Rohana Dissanayake, Group Chairman and Managing Director of David
Pieris Group, who served as the Chief Guest. The event also welcomed Mr. Jekhan Arulliah, Northern
Entrepreneurial Consultant and Project Consultant and senior leadership from the Group and its
companies.
Thalir is part of a broader northern development strategy initiated by the David Pieris Group in 2021
under the guidance of Mr. Pieris. Over the years, the Group has introduced a range of impactful
initiatives in the region—from launching an automotive workshop in Jaffna and introducing a pioneering
electric three-wheeler taxi service under the e-Drive brand, to advancing women’s empowerment
programmes and establishing a modern IT Development Centre in Jaffna.
In parallel, the Group’s financial services arm, Assetline Finance Limited, has provided critical support to
SMEs, agriculture and the fishing sector, while community-driven projects have enhanced access to
education, health, sports, clean water and sanitation—elevating the quality of life for thousands in the
North.
Thalir stands as the Group’s latest pledge to nurturing homegrown enterprise by blending financial
backing with strategic mentorship. The selected entrepreneurs will now begin their journey with
guidance from industry experts, ensuring their ventures have the structure and support needed to
thrive—not only for profit, but for long-lasting community impact.
