North-South business links

The authorities have lost no time in trying to restore normality to the North, which has just been cleared almost entirely of LTTE cadres, except for a very limited area. This is a step in the right direction as the restoration of normality and by extension, democracy, is vital for the development of the North including the Vanni.

Restoring transport and business links between the North and the South should be one of the main strategies in this regard. Indeed, this is already happening. The recent opening of the A9 road saw lorryloads of Northern produce arriving in Colombo for the first time after many years. This will naturally be a boon to the Northern economy, which slid into its nadir under Tiger influence.

The Government is also planning to extend the Yal Devi railway line, for which nearly Rs.11 million was collected in just 10 minutes recently. Together, these measures will certainly herald a new era for the North.

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year which is just around the corner is an ideal opportunity to cement these lasting bonds between Northern and Southern communities.

This being the first Sinhala and Tamil New Year that the entire country is celebrating under one flag after at least two decades, southerners should strive to extend the bonds of friendship and brotherhood to Northerners. In this spirit, the Government has initiated measures to ensure that all items are freely available to the Northern people at reasonable prices during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season.

The business community can and should play a major role in this endeavour.

The Government has already decided to permit leading Colombo-based companies and entrepreneurs to engage in business activities in the North. Several leading companies have already responded to this call and discussions are underway to facilitate their entry to the North.

We hope the corporate sector will be a major stakeholder in the Government’s drive to develop the North. There will be many opportunities for the private sector in the fields of reconstruction, infrastructure development, transport, telecom and power systems and various services as Northern development begins in earnest.

The major companies should consider setting up branch offices in key Northern towns including Kilinochchi to facilitate their logistical arrangements and to serve customers there. The North has the potential to become one of the fastest growing provinces in the country thanks to a resourceful people and the business community should be part of this momentum.

The wonder plant

Gliricidia, known scientifically as Gliricidia sepium, is now recognized as a versatile plant for a variety of uses. Earlier, the leguminous tree was only used for fencing purposes and not many recognized its value. Things are changing fast, with the realization that Gliricidia can be an economical alternative to traditional non-renewable fuel sources. It does not need extensive care to grow and even less fertile soils are not a problem.

The recent hike in oil prices was an eye-opener for private companies and Government authorities that sustainable alternatives have to be found for fossil fuels. In fact, several large-scale oil users have already converted to Gliricidia.

In one instance, it was found that the use of Gliricidia sticks had saved over 75 percent of a tile manufacturer’s LPG bill. It is better for the environment as well, as emissions are much less. Several products that use Gliricidia wood have been introduced for the domestic market as well.

The latest Gliricidia venture uses the plant to turn out animal feed mainly for export. The Board of Investment has granted approval to set up a project to manufacture animal food from Gliricidia at a factory at Maha Iluppallama, Anuradhapura and later in Puttalam. The US$ 250,000 project undertaken by a foreign company will obtain the raw materials from Gliricidia plants which will be grown at a 3,200 acre plantation.

This is a commendable step that will also generate employment for youth in these regions. More than 50,000 farmers growing Gliricidia will also benefit. Universities and research bodies must conduct more research on this versatile plant, especially its medicinal properties, in order to make maximum use of it.

It is also believed that the plant could act as a natural agent against certain soil nematodes, insects and fungi. There should be more sustainable cultivations of Gliricidia, which can also be grown as an interim crop along with a main crop.

The authorities should also give priority to ventures of this nature that make use of locally grown or available raw materials instead of importing them only for value addition. Incentives should be given to individuals and companies who find new uses for naturally available products such as Gliricidia. Such innovations could lead to a massive saving of funds and to a better environment.