Cottage industries islandwide

Ridma Dissanayake

The Economic Development Ministry has planned to establish a National program to create one million Domestic Economic Units under the theme Isurumath Niwahanak-Asirimath Mawbimak, said Colombo District Secretariat Secretary S Hapuarachchi.

The Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry, Industrial and Commerce Ministry, Technology and Research Ministry and Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry have teamed up with the Economic Development Ministry for this, he said.

Hapuarachchi said this while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the one million Domestic Economic Units program at the Colombo District Secretariat auditorium Friday. The program was established under the guidance of Colombo District Development Committee Chairman, Petroleum Industry Minister Susil Premajayantha. The objective of the program is to set up one million Domestic Economic Units consisting of home gardens, animal husbandry and cottage industries covering all villages. As a prelude, 100 Domestic Economic Units would be established in each Grama Niladhari Division, Hapuarachchi said.

This program would be established under main categories such as agricultural, domestic industry, fishing industry and animal husbandry. At the beginning of this program, Grama Niladhari officers, Samurdhi Development officers, Agriculture Research and Producing officers and Midwives will provide instructions. National Operations Force, District Operations Force and Divisional Operations Force will provide guidance to develop the program at Divisional and National level.