Wrong management led to closure of industries - Kumara Welgama

Wrong management resulted in the closure of many industries in Sri Lanka, Industrial Development Minister Kumara Welgama said.

"Instead of protecting local industrialists every Government went behind foreign investors. This resulted in many local industries being closed and increase in unemployment," Welgama told a public rally after opening the Packaging Material factory built in Arakagoda, Bandaragama at a cost of Rs. 250 million under the Gamata Karmantha 300 programme.

"This is the 10th factory built in the Kalutara district under the Gamata Karmantha Programme," he said.

"Every Government in power went after foreign investors. They were given facilities and our land. They mortgaged the land and obtained huge loans. Finally, they did not pay the bank loans and vanished without giving notice," the Minister said.

Welgama said this will not happen under the present Government. "If foreigners want to invest they must bring money from their countries. They must invest. Our industries were affected because there was no correct management. We have also taken steps to uplift the printing industry. We charge a 28 per cent tax for imports. The Government did so to protect our industries," he said.

"We provide infrastructure facilities to industrial estates being constructed in our country.

"We started industries on a village level. With the development of the village, youth would benefit as they will get employment in the village itself," Welgama said. "Due to industries being taken to the village there is a shortage of workers in Colombo.

When this type of factories are built, it is the duty of the workers to work with interest. They should protect the factory. Otherwise the workers are the losers," the Minister said. Packaging material Chairman R.A. Premasiri also spoke.