Puttalam Industrial Estate to provide 4,000 jobs

PUTTALAM: Minister of Industrial Development and Ranaviru Welfare Kumara Welgama says that the main intention behind the construction of Puttalam Industrial Estate is to provide 4,000 jobs.

Achieving the targets of ‘Mahinda Chinthanaya,’ measures have been taken to allocate a 50 acre block of land adjoining to the Holcim Cement Factory at Puttalam.

The Government will spend Rs. 100 million for the development of infrastructure facilities such as roads, water, electricity, telephone etc. in the Industrial Estate and has planned to complete all infrastructure facilities before December 2008. It is also expected to start brass, iron, apparel, and clay industries in this industrial park.

After unveiling the commemorative plaque of the new Puttalam Industrial Estate, Minister Welgama said this Industrial Estate in Puttalam is the 18th Industrial Estate build after he assumed duties as the Minister of Industrial Development.

He said the usual practice of providing jobs concentrated in the city of Colombo has now changed to the villages and regional level with the implementation of the ‘Gamata Karmantha’ project.

He said 4,000 youth of the area will be provided with jobs through this project. He also said that unused youth labour is the main obstacle for the development of the country and measures have been taken to identify the different skills among the youth to provide them suitable employment to create a strong economy there by providing better living standards.

Minister of Nation Building, D. M. Dasanayake said that the industries which were limited to the Colombo and Gampaha Districts have now gone to the village under the policies of ‘Mahinda Chinthanaya’, providing benefits to village youth.