Fifty one new projects under Gamata Karmantha programme

DANKOTUWA: Industrial Development Minister Kumara Welgama said that steps would be taken in the future to reduce electricity charges by an option consisting of natural gas and coal.

Minister Welgama mentioned that Industrialists make frequent requests to provide relief by reducing electricity charges and the proposed new electricity generating power stations would definitely fulfill the said request.

The Minister said so at the opening of another two factories belonging to the Divisional Secretariat division based 300 factories programme in Dankotuwa recently.

Four hundred and fifty three jobs will be provided by these factories and one factory named "Hero Zippers" manufactures zippers necessary for garments. Rs. 41 million has been invested for this purpose. The second factory, M. A. M. Rubber Industries which manufactures tyres for forklifts has invested Rs. 128 million for this purpose.

The Minister said the ministry of Industrial Development has so far approved 51 projects under the Gamata Karmantha programme upto now which would provide 12039 employment opportunities. Rs. 9,950 million has been invested in this regard. The construction of 23 factories are under way. These factories would provide direct employment opportunities to 5,428 people.

He said: the President's main aim is to protect and uplift the local industrialists.

When you look at this factory you could see the local nature of it.

Through these factories direct or indirect employment would be provided to around a thousand people. Moreover, as the M.A.M. Factory, which manufactures solid tyres, hopes to export their products, we could also hope to earn foreign exchange through it.

The other factory, which manufactures zippers, has got the ability to provide 60% of the zipper demand of Sri Lanka. He said everytime we meet with the industrialists, their main request is to reduce electricity charges. During the coming two years we would be able to definitely reduce electricity charges.

We have already discussed with a few countries to establish power stations producing electricity using natural gas and coal.

North Western Province Regional Industrial Services Director S. H. Harischandra and Messers. Mangala Jayamanna, Shantha Ranatunga and V. D. Jayantha also spoke.