Bakers fillip for progress

NIMAL WIJESINGHE Anuradhapura Additional District group correspondent

The Anuradhapura Chamber of Commerce has activated a programme to promote the bakery industry in Anuradhapura district.

The Chamber, under this programme, at a recently held workshop for bakers at the Anuradhapura branch of Central Bank pioneered to establish a 'bakery owners union' for Anuradhapura district.

Outlining the programme P. B. Dissanayake the Executive Director of the Anuradhapura Chamber of Commerce told the Daily News that the ILOs Anuradhapura Enter-Growth office, Anuradhapura Central Bank, Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission, National Engineering Research Institute, People's Leasing Company and Provincial Industry Development. Ministry, are patronising the project.

Dissanayake said the bakers especially doing business in rural areas in NCP still use primitive undeveloped technology in manufacturing bakery products. Under our programme they are given an opportunity to use an alternative energy oven and several less expensive machinery.

They are being educated to use rice flour in place of wheat flour in making bread. Also the Lanka Putra Bank has patronised in introducing a micro-interest loan scheme for bakery owners to expand their business."

The People's Leasing Company extends and easy-termed leasing system for bakers to purchase Dimo 'Batta' vehicles for transportation of bakery products.

The Director of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission Mrs Devika Rodrigo who was present at the inauguration of the Bakers Workshop and the formation of bakers union at which nearly 150 bakers participated, said that there was a methodology for bakers to obtain professional qualifications such as a degree and a diploma in bakery industry, based on their working proficiency shown at their own bakeries.

H. B. Semasinghe the Provincial Industry Development Minister present indicated that the bakers in North Central Province should take to modern technology deviating from traditional practices in providing qualitative products to the public.

He appreciated the move by the Anuradhapura Chamber of Commerce to upgrade the bakery industry since that would pave path for school leavers to associate with it.

Amal Piyatilake, the President of the Anuradhapura Chamber of Commerce Central Bank's Regional Manager H. M. Premadasa, Enter-Growth Regional Manager Nihal Dewagiri, Dr. Swarnashika the Deputy Director of the Anuradhapura Institute of Post-Harvest Technology were present.