Government to set-up regional industrial parks in difficult areas

The Ministry of Industrial Development has decided to set-up a number of Regional Industrial Parks in selected areas to cater to local industrialists and create employment for unemployed youth in the rural areas.

Additional secretary of the Ministry of Industrial Development R.V.D.Piyathilaka says these Industrial parks will be developed within the next eight months.

These parks will be set-up in Puttalam, Trincomalee, Buttala, Pallegodawatta and Galigamuwa.

At present preliminary works on these parks have commenced and the Ministry has selected industrial areas to allocate lands.

The Secretary said the Ministry wants to allocate lands, which use local resources to manufacture various industrial products.

Trincomalee - Kappalturai Industrial park will allocate 10 hectares under the first stage of the project and the Government plans to invest over Rs. 200 million to develop basic infrastructure. Agriculture, fisheries, vegetable and fruit processing sectors will receive priority at this park.

All selected industrialists will receive buildings, lands, water, electricity, telephone and other necessary facilities to start their industries.

The Puttalam Industrial Park will cater to another 15 industrialists under phase one of the project.

Development works are under way and the Ministry plans to allocate land plots for the selected industrialists within eight months.

A timber related manufacturing industry will be located in the Buttala Industrial Park. At present the area produces raw timber for timber related manufacturing plants in Colombo and the suburbs, but the rural youth in the area are affected due to the non availability of employment.

The Government legislators of the area have proposed this park would be a value added manufacturing park for the timber related industries. After their suggestion , the Ministry of Industrial Development has decided to start the Industrial Park and the Secretary said they plan to create over 1000 employments under the phase one of the park.

Piyathilaka said the Government will spend over Rs. 150 million for the project.

Meanwhile, initial studies are under way to set-up another two industrial parks in Galigamuwa and Pallegodawatta areas. After the studies, the Ministry of Industrial Development will forward a cabinet memorandum to obtain Government approval for these projects.

The main aim is to develop rural and difficult areas in Sri Lanka and create thousands of employment for the rural youth, Piyathilaka explained.

Asian Tribune