Industries to be revived in North and East
Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE
The Government will streamline industries in the North and the East
which were hampered by three decades of LTTE terrorism, Mass Media and
Communication Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.
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Minister Keheliya Rambukwella |
Under the initiatives, the Government will allocate Rs 563 million
for infrastructure development in the North and the East, aiming to
recommence dilapidated industries and factories including 36 factories
in the Atchuvely Industrial Estate, Jaffna. Due to the conflict in the
area, the 36 factories were severely damaged.
The Cabinet approved a Cabinet paper recently which was forwarded by
Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas
Devananda and Industry and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiyutheen to
recommence work on dilapidated enterprises.
The Ministries have planned to reactivate the industries with the
assistance of the Industrial Development Board (IDB) and Board of
Investments.
The Government of India will grant Rs 174 million while the Sri
Lankan Government will provide Rs 25 million for this program. In
addition, United Nations Industrial Development Organizations (UNIDO)
will allocate Rs 364 million for two components.
Under the first component, micro industries in the North and the East
will get a boost.
This will also increase agricultural productivity and promote rural
income generating activities and fisheries industry.
In accordance with the second component the competitiveness of
industries will be increased while reducing poverty through the
introduction of environment friendly technologies.
“The ultimate aim is to boost the rural economy by way of assisting
people to start small and medium enterprises. Through this program more
employment opportunities will generate,” Minister Rambukwella said. The
Minister further said that the Government will reactivate Atchuvely
Industrial Estate in Jaffna with the assistance of IDB. The Industrial
Estate was established in 1971 to provide infrastructure facilities for
the small and medium industries. |
