Moving in the right direction under Gama Gedarata Kuda Karmantha

COLOMBO: The Industrial Development Ministry jointly with the Footwear Manufacturers' Association will launch the Gama Gedarata Kuda Karmantha 1000 programme to manufacture upper footwear parts for domestic footwear manufacturers, said Industrial Development Minister Kumara Welgama.

The Minister was speaking at the handing over of land deeds to six investors at the Mahara, Ranmuthugala, Wewahena Waththa Industrial Estate to start new ventures. The overall investment is Rs. 270 million.

"The Ministry has made all arrangements to achieve the development targets outlined in the Mahinda Chinthana with regards to industrial development sector."

The Minister said he has directed the Ministry officials, heads of Corporations and Boards to expedite the development programme considering 2007 as an Industrial Year. Sixty nine projects have already been approved under the Gamata Karmantha programme, he said.

"Arrangements are in place to initiate industries of plastic goods, the manufacture of steel and wooden office furniture, assembling of electricity distribution circuits and corrugated packing boxes," he said.

"During the recent tours to India and China, we studied their industries. In India, accessories required for the products manufactured on large scale companies are mostly manufactured in ordinary homes.

"Things such as clutch plates and pressure plates of Ashok Leyland buses are manufactured in households. Due to this, tens of thousands of self-employment is generated.

"Under this, it has been decided to start 1,000 of these industries in rural areas outside Colombo and provide a loan of Rs. 5 lakhs at low interest rates from the Lanka Puthra Bank," the minister said.