Govt boosting industries

In accordance with 'Mahinda Chinthana':

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry is taking steps to transform 5,000 small scale industrialists to medium scale industrialists, and 500 medium scale industrialists to large scale industrialists as envisaged in the 'Mahinda Chinthana' Vision for the Future programme, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda said.

The minister was participating as chief guest at the ceremony held to mark the opening of the newly constructed auditorium at Pallekele Industrial Estate belonging to Ceylon Industrial Development Board (IDB) on May 10.

The auditorium was built with the investments of the industrialists of the Pallekele Industrial Estate without any state contribution.

Ministry Secretary, Sivagnanasothy, presenting the minister's message said in the process of the government's endeavour it was committed to supply the raw materials, lands, bank loan facilities and technology required by the industrialists, and all these facilities would be routed through, Palmyrah Development Board, National Design Centre, National Crafts Council and Ceylon Industrial Development Board (IDB), functioning under the purview of his ministry.

He said the Budget 2011/2012 was designed to provide a gamut of concessions to industrialists and entrepreneurs in every field. The concessions on raw materials, marketing facilities both local and foreign and provision of technology had been offered to the industrialists in this budget, he added.

He said the IDB was not an organization set up for the mere collection of rentals but an institution designed to extend every facility to deserving industrialists to uplift their ventures.

However, on the instructions of the minister the enhanced ground rental of 40 percent was reduced to 30 percent and the minister has taken steps to do away with the rent hitherto charged from the canteen at the Industrial Estate, he added. The Secretary said of the 18 Industrial Estates maintained by the IDB, Pallekele was one of the most developed and there were 72 well-established industries out of which 54 were performing satisfactorily.

Consequent to a discussion the minister had with the Finance Ministry Secretary Dr P B Jayasundara, steps are now being taken to provide infrastructure facilities to four industrial estates to make them model estates in the world, and Pallekele was one of them, he said.

On a request made by some industrialists steps would be taken by the minister to carpet and light up interior roads and provide drinking water to the estate, he said. Deputy Minister Weerakumara Dissanayake said steps were being taken by the minister and the ministry to further develop the Pallekele Industrial Estate.

President of Pallekele Industrialists' Association, Srilal Kularatne said after Douglas Devananda became the Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister he listened to the grievances of industrialists at discussions, and took meaningful steps to solve the problems. He said all the industrialists were of the view the minister would take steps to implement the recommendations of the committee appointed by him.

The Industrialists' Association Secretary K A Jayathilake proposed the vote of thanks. The ministry's Senior Assistant Secretary Pushpa Abeyagoonewardene, and ministry officials participated in the meeting.