In keeping with Govt’s Uthuru Wasanthaya:

Mega project to develop North

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

The Ministry of Industries Development has embarked on a mega project to develop the North in keeping with the Government’s Uthuru Wasanthaya accelerated development program.

Plans are under way to restart the Fishing Net factory at Gurunagar with UN assistance and the factory has received a Rs. 9 million investment and the Ministry has provided Rs. 3 million to commence operations immediately.

It has the capacity to produce three metric tons monthly. Steps are being taken to increase the capacity up to 15 metric tons monthly.

The nets will be exported to Norway. As there would be an increase in fish production in the North a better local market for nets will also be available, Minister of Industrial Development Kumara Welgama told an inspection tour to the North recently.

The Ministry has taken steps to increase the production capacity and initial work has already begun.

A boat factory at Karainagar will be developed to produce more boats annually. It has a capacity to build 30 boats at present.

Steps will be taken to revive the Kankesanthurai Cement Corporation which was abandoned for over two decades.

It produced one million metric tons of cement at the time of closure. The grinding and packing units has a 40 percent functioning capacity and it is expected to restart within seven months. The packing unit has the capacity to pack five million bags of cement.

The Ministry has taken steps to import clinker to start production soon. There is a 740 acre lime stone quarry to support cement production.

The Cement Corporation is expected to fully function in two years, he said. The factory will generate direct and indirect employment opportunities.

The development of the Kankesanthurai Port is currently under way to enhance its capacity from 4,000 ships to 7,000 ships.

These development activities will be environment friendly, the Minister said.