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by Ramani Kangaraarachchi

There had been encouraging response from investors at the INTRAD Exhibition 2003 which showcased 82 stalls covering 18 ministries, government departments, State organisations and the private sector.

"Our aim to invite investors to develop the infrastructure through out the country was achieved to a great extent towards ' Regaining Sri Lanka' the Chief Operations Officer, Maneesha Hindurangala said. "Information was available for local and foreign investors.

Participation of the government sector and their efforts for the first time in this exhibition was commendable " she said. Transport, Tourism, Health Services Agriculture and Rural Economy were among stalls that exhibited their interest areas. Dr. V. Jeganathan at the Health Services stall pointed out that there was increasing burden on government expenditure for healthcare to improve health status.

In keeping with government policy avenues to cater to this demand were being examined. Enhancing the private sector too was being considered to enhance cost affectivity.

Among investor opportunities in the government sector there were joint ventures for the manufacture of high volume drugs, manufacture and marketing of fast moving pharmaceuticals in Sri Lanka and the

establishment of an infusion preparation plant and manufacturing long lasting insecticidal nets.

In the private health sector opportunities will be available to set up hospitals in outstation cities including, human resource development for private health sector institutions.

There were eight potential projects for North and East health care development.

Identification of building contractors and other contractors for installation of building system networks and hospital infrastructure restoration, in the North and East.

Rent a vehicle for hospital, community and management of health services in North & East.

Setting up private maternity hospitals, laboratory services in Batticaloa and Kalmunai districts. Control of Malaria and the mosquito menace.

Outsourcing solid waste management in town areas in North and East and production of nutritious cereal flakes from local grain and pulses.

Dr. Jeganathan elaborating on the scope of setting up private laboratory services in Batticaloa said, that currently there was minimal private sector involvement for providing healthcare services in the region. Seventy five per cent of the population was concentrated along the coastal area. As available facilities was inadequate laboratory services could be outsourced to private laboratories in the area.

Also government institutions could get the required laboratory investigations carried out on a fee per test basis. A mobile service could be provided by private laboratory to collect samples from government institutions.

Investors of private sector organisations are expected to carry out feasibility studies ,set up the laboratory and provide health staff by 2005, under this project.

Ana Madawala, Regional General Manager HRD, Bogawanthalawa plantation explained multiple options they have for investment.

Development of a tourism base in close proximity to the Hatton town with easy access to the main roads was prominent.

Climate conditions and the green and clean environment of the Bogawantalawa Valley is the ideal location for development of a tourism base that caters to the health conscious and the eco minded tourist.

Upgrading of the Summervile, New Valley, Castlereigh and Tientsin bungalows are initial plans Madawala said. According to him there is good demand for all these bungalows at present from the local tourists alone.

Facilities are also available to set up a modern medical centre. Promotion and development of eco-tourism will have promising development opportunities.

Ten acres from New Valley - Norwood Estate has been selected to build an International School with all modern facilities including a hostel. Children from all areas both local and foreign and plantation groups would be the target market for this project.

New Wave & Kusuhara is a total logistics provider and is a partnership between NYK Lines (Japan) Kusuhara Transportation (Japan) and Maritime Holdings Ltd (Sri Lanka). Starting off in Sri Lanka as a project cargo clearance company for infrastructure projects, the company has now been transformed into a total logistics provider under the management of Maritime Holdings, the transportation arm of the Hayleys Group.

The company has the capability to handle large scale infrastructure projects with speedy customs clearance and precision delivery to any site in Sri Lanka. Atsuko Terakawa, Business Development Manager said. They also provide a superlative service in airfreight through their worldwide network.

An integrated approach to village level community development where villagers taking the lead was exhibited under One Product One Village programme enabling the rural poor to overcome their poverty.

The project has identified 1000 resource-rich villages under the first phase of the programme covering 200000 household offering a different strategy for better participation of people at grassroot level in the whole village development and implementation period. This is an on-going program. Director General Ministry of Rural Economy Development, Palitha Ekanayake said. The criteria for identifying such villages are as follows.

The village well known for producing one identical product.

Atleast more than 50% of the villagers are engaged in producing one item.

It should have sufficient natural resources of skill necessary for the production and have comparative advantages. Some of the characteristics of those villages are:

Traditional agricultural crop producer villages, specialised agricultural items producer villages, traditional off-farm item producer villages and the villages which are traditionally historical and famous for some sort of maintaining artistic values.

A number of handicrafts and agricultural items are produced in Kurunegala, Kandy, Matale and Avissawella under this project.

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