SSRG International Journal of Economics and Management Studies (SSRG-IJEMS) – Volume 7 Issue 1 – Jan 2020 ISSN: 2393 - 9125 www.internationaljournalssrg.org Page 120 Microfinance involvement and enabling of Women Entrepreneur in Kilinochchi District and comparison study with Jaffna District T. Ramajeyam 1 , L.Sooriyakumaran 2 , T.L.Vannarajah 3 1 Senior Lecturer, Management Department, ATI, Jaffna, Sri Lanka 2 Asst. Lecturer, Accountancy Department, ATI, Jaffna, Sri Lanka 3 Asst. Lecturer, Management Department, ATI, Jaffna, Sri Lanka Abstract In recent times, empowering women entrepreneurship through microfinance is one of the main issue in Sri Lanka. Entrepreneurship of women in Northern Province contributes to the socio- economic development of their families as well as country. However, most readings focused on outreach and sustainability of microfinance institutions, and only little focus found on the effect of microfinance involvement and enabling on women entrepreneurs’ performance in Northern Province of Sri Lanka. The prime objective of this study is to examine the women empowerment through involvement and enabling of micro finance institution of Sanasa Development Bank PLC (SDB PLC) in Kilinochchi. Data were derived from a questionnaire survey of sample 85 widow women in Kandawalai and Karaichchi area of Kilinochchi district who has utilize the SDB PLC. The data have been collected 80 out of 85 regarding the micro credit, savings and training. The correlation and ANOVA test have been used to analyse the data to find out the relationship and significant differences using SPSS software package. The study recognizes that there is a significant relationship between savings and training except micro credit with empowerment of women. However most of the widow women of Kilinochchi district could not utilize the micro credit finance to initiate the business activities to achieve the financial empowerment in their life due to burden of day to day expenses compare with Jaffna district. Keywords — Micro credit, saving, training and empowerment of women. I. INTRODUCTION Microfinance increases financial inclusion by extending financial services to small businesses and new entrepreneurs, especially in rural and poor areas. The objective of microfinance is to create an environment where low-income earners can easily access good quality financial services to smooth their consumption, purchase assets and fund their daily activities. Women mostly suffer from poverty in many developing countries. Sri Lanka, being one of the developing countries, the case is a burning issue in the country. The objective of microfinance is to create an environment where low-income earners can easily access good quality financial services to smooth their consumption, purchase assets and fund their daily activities. Women mostly suffer from poverty in many developing countries. Sri Lanka, being one of the developing countries, the case is a burning issue in the country. As stated by Harper, (1996) women everywhere, particularly in poor countries are seriously disadvantaged due to various reasons. While women handle a large part of the world’s work, they receive a very small part of the reward of the work, in terms of money which they can control and social position. According to the World Bank (2001), gender inequalities in developing societies slow down economic growth and national development. According to Harper (1996), women empowerment differs from one country to another and between different income groups within each country. However, women’s micro credit availability, micro savings and training are generally worse in poor countries as compared to the rich. Women empowerment is giving the ability to generate choices and exercise bargaining power, developing a sense of self-worth, a belief in one’s ability to secure desired changes and the right to control one’s life. (Narayan, 2002:10). This research seeks to bridge the gap by establishing the effect of microfinance interventions on empowerment of women entrepreneurs in Kilinochchi District in Sri Lanka. SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY Through this continuous study, researchers want to enhance to the body of knowledge on the social contributions of SDB PLC on enablement of women in rural community in Kilinochchi District as reflected by any change in their living standards at individual, household or enterprise level. The findings, which have got from previous study of Ramajeyam at el (2016) will lead to improvement of microfinance institution’s positive impact on the lives of their clientele who are mostly women. The results