Thursday, 06  March 2003  
The widest coverage in Sri Lanka.
Politics
News

Business

Features

Editorial

Security

Politics

World

Letters

Sports

Obituaries

Archives

Govt. - LTTE Ceasefire Agreement

Government - Gazette

Silumina  on-line Edition

Sunday Observer

Budusarana On-line Edition





Govt to prohibit export of gems, geuda as raw material but encourages import - Prof Peiris

The Prime Minister has decided to prohibit the export of gems and Geuda as a means of raw material but encourage the unlimited import as raw material, and provide tax relief.

When gems and geuda are cut and polished the final value added product earns 16 times the profit earned than when it's exported as a raw material. Hence, the government has made this decision purely towards the development of the gem industry, said Prof. G. L. Peiris, Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion, Minister of Constitutional Affairs having declared open the Training Institute for Jewellery Manufacture which comes under the Institute for Gem & Jewellery Research and Development.

To coincide with this event was also an exhibition held by the Gem and Jewellery sector together with the award of certificates to students who had completed the training program, by Prof. G. L. Peiris and other distinguished invitees.

The training program for jewellery manufacture, which is conducted by the Department of Technical Education and Training, will serve as a stepping stone for those students who will successfully complete the program, to secure employment in the sector for gem and jewellery, as the product has great demand in the overseas and local markets.

The Minister stated that other than establishing peace the biggest challenge and problem currently faced by the country is unemployment. At the same time our main resource is the human resource of high quality. In this regard the main responsibility that lies with the government is to draw up and implement a solid and practical program for human resource development. As such, there are steps to be taken in order to derive the maximum of the gem and jewellery industry towards economic development in the country.

There is a serious problem faced by the entire world. One cannot say at what moment war would break out in Iraq. If this happens the situation in our country will be worse. In order to overcome this situation, the government under the guidance of Prime Minister has drawn up a clear program. The Cabinet has approved this measure in order to protect the people in a difficult situation. He said undoubtedly, there will be an increase in oil prices and inflation in the country, resulting in an increase in the price of goods, should a war break out.

The institutional framework to protect the people has been worked out by an Act of Parliament. In the event of such a situation, the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs will be vested with the power to control the wholesale and retail prices of essential food items. By the Act, if necessary, the power to physically take over of essential food items also lies with the Minister. Similarly, there was also a price reduction of certain drugs recently. The government expects to provide more relief to people in time to come.

The Minister said there is no economic progress without peace said the Minister and also added that there are some opposition groups that envy and go all out to sabotage the peace process and other activities of the government whilst at the same time spreading rumours.

The killings of scholars such as Prof. Stanley Wijesundara and Dr. Patuwithana and of students opposing their ideas, cannot be and should not be put down in history as sadly done by most citizens, cautioned the Minister.

Minister for North West Development Jayatilleke Podinilame in his address stated that as politicians they have faced a serious situation in regard to unemployment in the Kegalle district. This is not a question only for Kegalle but for the entire island. The government has directed its attention towards this problem and the training program launched has to be considered as one of immense value to all of us.

Minister for Tertiary Education and Training Kabeer Hasheem expressing his views: we have discussed to upgrade the quality of our training program to be in line with the standard of the certificate issued by City and Guilds UK.

Our Institute will be geared to provide systematic training to youth groups program implemented by the Prime Minister. The target is to train at least 50,000 youth and enter them to the labour market. All of them should obtain jobs, is our objective. There is no question of jobs in the country. The question lies with the ability to perform the jobs. The rural youth cannot even send an application due to lack of practical training, knowledge of English language and computer skills.

Hence our main objective is to give the adequate knowledge and skills to the rural youth.

W. Somadasa MP for North Western Province, S. Wijegunewardhena, Chairman Gem and Jewellery Research and Training Institute, Ms. K. K. Iddamalgoda, Kegalle Technical College also addressed the gathering.

A Sinhala publication titled "Ganga Nimna Aashritha Avasaadhitha Menik Nidhi" authored by Prof. C. B. Dissanayake and Dr. Rohana Chandrajith, was presented on this occasion to the Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris. Ms. Danapala Epitawatte, UNF Organizer of Aranayake, B. A. Nagasinghe, Kegalle District Secretary, Prof. P. G. R. Dharmaratne, Chairman Gem and Jewellery Authority, Ms. Swarna Obeysekera, Chairman National Designs Centre, including government officials, parents and others were also present on this occasion.

 

www.peaceinsrilanka.org

www.eurbanliving.com

www.2000plaza.lk

www.eagle.com.lk

Crescat Development Ltd.

www.helpheroes.lk


News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |


Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager


Hosted by Lanka Com Services