Govt unveils decade of progress

Rasika Somarathna

While embarking on a mega development drive to uplift the North and East, the Government has also stepped up efforts in the rest of the country with several new initiatives in line with its 10 year development plan.

Accordingly a new fishery harbour at a cost of Rs. 7,900 million is to be established in Dickwella, which is expected to propagate development in this sector.

Ministry sources said the proposed harbour to be located in a 13 hectare land would be equipped with all modern technology according to international standards.

The Netherlands Government is to assist this project by providing 65 per cent of the total cost, while the Treasury will provide the rest, with the expected deadline for completion being two years.

Ten other development initiatives have also been mooted in several areas, in line with the Government’s ‘Development of Village Industries’ programme. It is expected to generate 2,500 direct employment.

Three separate production factories are to be established in Puttalam for brass products, steel nails and hand woven material.

In Kundasale, Kandy, two projects are to take place in the form of a production facility for sweets and a factory for packaging products. In Matugama, two factories are to be established to produce cosmetics and travelling bags.

In Polonnaruwa, a factory to produce rubber goods out of recycled rubber is to be implemented with a facility to produce polythene products to be established in Panadura.

A large scale steel production facility has also been planned in Trincomalee and a paper bag factory in Dankotuwa.

According to the Industrial Development Ministry all these new initiatives have been financed by local investors with the Government lending valuable support including tax concessions.

The Government has also taken steps to implement another trade zone in Galigamuwa, Kegalle at a cost of Rs. 175 million.

The project expected to be completed before the end of the year would enable at least 3,000 direct and indirect employment and is also expected to give prominence to local investors.