The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was the principle implementing partner of the SALE project, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation, with financial support from the United States Department of State. This project aimed to promote entrepreneurship as a desirable career option for youth in Sri Lanka by developing entrepreneurial skills and creating an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs.

SALE was implemented in selected schools, universities and tertiary and vocational training centres across Galle, Gampaha, Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Puttalam, Ratnapura and Trincomalee, reaching over 7,500 students during the first phase.

• Trained over 5,400 youth across various districts through entrepreneurship skills development programs, workshops, and customised training sessions
• Delivered ILO’s customised Know About Business (KAB) training in trilingual form to over 1900 students in 65 schools and VTA centres
• Established Entrepreneurship Clubs (E-Clubs) at the district and institutional levels, creating platforms for youth to engage in entrepreneurship activities and leadership roles
• Launched the ‘SPARK Youth Entrepreneurship Competition’, now conducted for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024, which encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to submit their innovative business ideas. Throughout the lifecycle of the competition, the shortlisted competitors receive entrepreneurship training from industry veterans, mentors and entrepreneurship coaches, which helps them to hone their business skills, from ideating and drawing up business plans, to creating go to market business plans and products.
• National Entrepreneurship Day was declared on 16 November 2023, with 9 E-Day events held across all 9 districts, engaging over 3,250 students from 100 schools
• Partnered with key organisations such as the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and regional chambers to organise policy dialogues, focusing on creating an enabling environment for youth entrepreneurship
• Exposure Visit to Hyderabad, India for top-performing youth entrepreneurs, providing opportunities to learn from Indian startups and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem

The first phase of the SALE project which was implemented from 2022 to early 2024, laid the foundation for a sustainable entrepreneurial culture in Sri Lanka, empowering youth to consider entrepreneurship as a viable career path and fostering long-term economic resilience.