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The apporal industry which earns 53 per cent of the foreign exchange has provided 1,000 job in Hambantota, said Prof G. L. Peiris, Minister of Enterprise Development Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion and Minister of Constitutions Affairs.

Those who criticised the apparel industry when the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa commenced its operations, saying this project will involve manufacturing under-garments for white women, are now criticising and obstructing the peace process, he said after presenting letters of appointments to employees of Dynamic Clothing Pvt Ltd and inspecting four garment factories in the Hambantota district, under the Arunalu programme to expedite provision of 7,500 jobs implemented by the Ministry.

Prof. Peiris said the country's economy is based on the apparel export process.

"The criticism levelled at this industry at the inception, and what it is today,is a very good example for the present times as well. The people have a right to decide whether there should be war or peace. There won't be any investments if there is war. There won't be industrial development, new job opportunities, new ports, airports, highways and express ways because priority would be to protect the lives of the people", the minister said.

"Every cent available will be spent on purchase of aircraft, helicopters, ships, bombs, guns and ammunition. Are we going in this direction? This is not a decision to be made by the government alone. In a democratic country, the decision-making powers lie with its people", Prof. Peiris said.

"This government has taken much effort in launching the peace process and economic development programme. These needed meticulous planning which is the reason that you are enjoying its large-scale benefits today. It is up to you to decide whether you will come forward to protect this situation on permanent basis", the minister said.

Prof. Peiris said PA MP Chamal Rajapakse has done immense service to this district. "If this government was power hungry, it would never have given leadership of the Committee on Electoral Reforms to the opposition. Amongst all committees appointed, this is the most important. Traditionally this committee should have been led by me as the Minister of Constitutional Affairs. However, I suggested that this post be given to the opposition. We implemented this project towards our youth", he said.

This country could be driven to prosperity only through peace. We commenced operations of the Micro Car project in Polgahawela which would generate 3,000 jobs by mid 2004. All this is towards the youths' future. Protecting this is the duty of every citizen, the minister said.

Ananda Kularatne, Minister of Southern Region Development, said the apparel sector jobs are made mostly for women.

"Males are now questioning us. As a resolution to this problem on the Prime Minister's directions we have planned large-scale projects for this district. The international prot and airport are some of them. There will certainly be a radical change in the Hambantota district in the next decade. The international port alone has been estimated at US$ 1,700 million. The largest investment will be made in this district", he said.

MP Rajapakse said many development activities in Hambantota were carried out on the advice and assistance of Prof. Peiris.

"It was the late Ranasinghe Premadasa who taught us to extend the apparel industry, confined to the city of Colombo, to the rural areas. There were only two garment factories in Hambantota then. It is because Prof. Peiris concentrated on these areas even during the previous government, that Mirijjawila zone alone has five factories", he said.

Sajith Premadasa, Deputy Minister of Health, Nutrition and Welfare said at a time when the Prime Minister is taking the country in the direction of peace, the concepts and visions of Prof. Peiris has contributed immensely as a result of which strengthening the industry and developing the industry is now shouldered by Minister Peiris.

"My father developed the concept by taking 200 apparel industries to rural areas followed by the PA government by launching the 50 garment factories programme", he said.

Siri Andrahennadi, Deputy Chairman of Committees said there are certain political groups that instigate the closure of factories and encourage employees to submit various demands to factory management creating trouble in factories.

Having already closed some factories, their intentions are to get the youth who have lost their jobs to join their teams in unlawful acts", he said.

Prof. Peiris also presented land deeds to industrialists in the Beliatta industrial zone implemented under the Industrial Development Board. The Minister also handed over deeds to landless families in the Katuwana area and clothes to flood victims in Katuwana area.

Under the Arunalu Programme appointment letters in Lanka Fashion Clothing Pvt Ltd, Weerawila, Dynamic Clothing-Hambantota, Anupama Apparel Garments, Ambalantota and Super Fine Garments, katuwana were presented to new recruits by Ministers Peiris and Kularatne, Deputy Minister Premadasa, Deputy Chairman of Committees Andrahennadi and MP Rajapakse.

Kamal Samararatne, Chairman Ambalantota Regional Council and M. A. M. Sucreet, factory manager also spoke.

Nilame Tennekoon Southern Provincial Council Member B. A. Gamini Hambantota Mayor, Buvaneka Atapattu, Beliatta Regional Council, Chairman K. H. Chandrasena, Katuwana Regional Council chairman K. H. Premadasa, Ruhunu Development Bank Chairman, Sirisena Gallearachchi, Regional Secretary, Katuwana and Roy Jayasinghe additional Secretary, Ministry of Enterprise Development and Chairman TQB were present.

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