More funds allocated

For Traditional Industries:

A huge quantum of funds has been allocated from the Budget this time by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to uplift Traditional Industries and other village based small enterprises, said Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Deputy Minister Weerakumara Dissanayake.

He was speaking after opening the Common Service Centres for Kitul related products at Neluwa Katukenda Village in Gale district and Walakada Village in Kalutara District. He also said that Minister Douglas Devananda, investing the funds so allocated meaningfully and constructively in the process of setting up 1000 industrial villages islandwide for upliftment traditional industries such as, Kitul, Clay, Coir and Palmyra related industries.

Walakada Common Service Centre at Palindanuwara Divisional Secretariat Division has been put up at a cost of Rs 24 million and has the capacity to boil 2000 litres of Kitul Sap. Katukenda Common Service Culture at Neluwa Divisional Secretariat Division in Galle District has been set up at a cost of Rs 56 million.

The Deputy Minister presented with safety kits and knives used for slicing kitul flowers to all the 36 members of Walakada Co-operative Society which was set up. Speaking further, he said that these 1000 industrial villages are set up under "Rekiya Bihidora" program of "Mahinda Chinthana" Vision for the Future and that his Minister Douglas Devananda is very much concerned in taking this program forward for reaping its desired benefits. He also said that his Ministry in future would provide with modern equipment deemed necessary for the Industry and that local as well as foreign markets would be found for their products.

He also said that there are about 3 million Kitul palms in various part of the country and that steps would be taken to set up Common Service Centres in places of necessity. He finally added that a similar centre in Kurunegala District too would be opened.

The Secretary to the Ministry at the occasion said that the co-operative societies to which the peoplised Common Service Centres were handed over that day, should act with vision and will, to take forward the industry to its desired level and this would entirely depend on the commitment and dedication of the individual members. Any support the Co-operative Societies needed concerning the industry could be obtained from the Industrial Development Board, he added.

Though the Minister was to participate at the ceremony could not do so due to unavoidable circumstances. IDB Chairman Udayasiri Kariyawasam, Additional Secretary K R Samarasinghe participated at the opening ceremony.