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| Saturday, 21 June 2003 |
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A special meeting of investors was held to review the progress of industries in the Puttalam District and provide immediate solutions to the problems faced by investors, organized by the Puttalam Investors' Association conducted by the North-West regional economic Development Committee, at the Senatilleke Guest Inn, Puttalam. The Chief Guest on this occasion was Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment promotion and Minister of Constitutional Affairs, Prof. G.L. Peiris. Present at this meeting were Minister A.H.M. Azwer, Mary Larine Perera, MP, Palitha Ranga Bandara, MP, Arjuna Mahendra, Chairman DG BOI, Deshamanya Lalith Kotalawela, Chairman of the North-West REDC, Suraj Dandeniya, Director General REDC, M.I.B. Baafi- Member, North-West Provincial council; with Investors and industrialists of the area. Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said; the creativity and innovatory capacity of our youth, when compared with that of other countries, are at very high standards. What is necessary is some assistance for them to successfully carry forward a commercial project by linking their creativeness to the industrial sector. As the North West REDC has now given a hand in this, there will definitely be a considerable amount of job opportunities in this region through manufacturing concerns such as automated bicycles and three-wheeler manufactures. Prior to the Meeting, Minister Peiris and others present inspected exhibits of mopeds/bicycles named "Niranjan Rider" manufactured by connecting to a normal bicycle, a single cylinder engine powered by petrol and three-wheelers assembled in Sri Lanka under the brand name "Alba". The moped/bicycle does 85-90 kms on one litre of petrol and if required it could be ridden manually. The REDC expects to provide jobs at regional level through the assembly of mopeds/bicycles and three wheelers. He said that without any doubt it could be mentioned that the future economic progress of this country will be based on a practical programme for sound industrial development. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has designed an appropriate mechanism for achieving this objective, by the establishment of five Regional Economic Development Commissions under the restructuring of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka. According to Suraj Dandeniya under the North West REDC 80-90 BOI projects have already commenced operations. There are many projects in this area based on prawn cultivation. It is our intention, when carrying out development activities in any region, to join with and consider the ideas, proposals and views of the political authorities of the region. By working together the development activities could be speeded, free of obstacles. The Ministry on the Minister's directions is now working on a programme to check the progress of all REDCs established and implement programmes to expedite industrial development activities in each area. For discussions and meetings organized in this regard with investors and industrialists, the Ministers and MPs of the relevant areas will be invited. The Minister commended Deshamanya Lalith Kotalawela, Chairman of the North West REDC, for the successful implementation of development activities in the region. Minister A.H.M. Azwer said that this area is mainly engaged in prawn cultivation and salt production. He expressed amazement having learnt that there are 80-90 more projects identified. There are capable and skilled people in this area for handicraft industry and other top level industries. there are no avenues for them to receive investment capital and technology skills. Steps should be taken to fulfill these requirements, said Mr. Azwer. Deshamanya Lalith Kotalawela said when we invite foreign investors, however much we provide them with land, infrastructure, tax concessions, etc., their objective is only profit. But in Sri lankans, whatever race or religion they may belong to, there is a feeling within that this is our country. Therefore, priority is to start programmes small, at village level thereafter expand them to small and medium scale levels and alleviate poverty thereby establishing economic development. The "Alba" three wheeler factory which is planned to commence in Puttalam will provide jobs to 50 persons under the first stage, whilst the Niranjan Company bicycle assembly project which is now being introduced to the region; will first provide necessary training and establish the project as a cottage industry among thousand families for self-employment. The necessary know-how, finance, licenses, spares, etc, will be provided by the REDC. According to Mr. Dandeniya, the REDC has already commenced activities to uplift, among the identified industries, fisheries industry, the three wheeler and moped/bicycle manufacture, salt manufacture, onion cultivation, sesame related products, cadju, tourism and mainly prawn cultivation. |
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