Introduction

        Many business enterprises in Sri Lanka belongs to the small business category. Most of these enterprises are located outside the capital city of Colombo. Employment in the rural sector is also generated by small business ventures. The government has organized the socio economic significance of the small business sector and has instituted policies to encourage and promote small business activities. Conditions conducive for small business ventures exist in Sri Lanka. In spite of this, many small ventures have failed or have suffered slow growth. Reasons for such failures appear to be related to selection procedures of the ventures and improper management of the business. The Open University of Sri Lanka presents this programme to address these two crucial factors of business success, selection, and management of small business ventures. The structure of the programme and the approach to it are designed to ensure its usefulness as a training exercise for aspiring investors and businessmen and for those who aspire to become managers and other supportive in business organizations.