Production at Elephant Pass Saltern to begin next year - Minister Devananda

'Rehabilitation work on the Elephant Pass Saltern will commence soon. Salt production will begin in the first quarter of next year,' Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda said.

The minister was on an observation tour of the saltern on December 23 with senior officials.

The saltern was completely destroyed by the LTTE.

Devananda said he participated in the observation tour, obtain first hand information about the rehabilitation work needed to recommence the project.

He said that it seemed that everything had to be done from scratch.

He, after instructing the surveyors to carry out a thorough survey and submit him a detailed map of the saltern, instructed the officials to put up earth buns as the existing ones were dilapidated. The minister stressed that everything necessary for recommencement of the saltern needed to be in place during the first quarter of next year.

Devananda later proceeded to observe the Kuringativu Saltern and emphasized the necessity of making available all facilities for the commencement of production of this saltern as well.

The minister said that the salt produced should be of international standard.