Pelwatte-Sevanagala sugar factory to commence ops on March 5

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The Pelwatte-Sevanagala sugar factory will commence operations on March 5. It was taken over by the government under the Revival of Under Performing Enterprises and Underutilized Assets law.

Productivity Promotion Minister Lakshman Seneviratne said the government will recommence sugar manufacturing in the factory to meet the country's sugar requirement.

The minister revealed these facts while participating in an inspection tour of the Pelwatte-Sevanagala sugar factory recently.

"We spend Rs 40 billion annually to import the country's sugar requirements. There are 7,000 employees at the Pelwatte-Sevanagala sugar factory. We have the ability to manufacture sugar for the country's consumption," he said.

The world has faced an economic recession. Sri Lanka also has to face effects of this economic downturn. As a developing country, it has already achieved certain development goals with the end of war, he said.