Ministry to set up 30,000 cottage industries under Divi Neguma

The Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry will set up 30,000 cottage industries under the Divi Neguma Programme. At least 10,000 industries will commence by the end of this year.

Minister Douglas Devananda made these observations by chairing a meeting attended by state officials of the institutions engaged in the implementation of the Divi Neguma programme at the ministry recently.

The minister said institutions and officials should complete training programmes of prospective industrialists who had tendered their applications for commencing new industries.

He said steps will be taken to provide bank credit, raw materials and technology for those who completed training. Rs 10,000 worth tool sets will be provided for new Cottage Industrialists, the minister said.

Senior Minister for Urban Affairs A H M said action will be taken to produce 10,000 small scale industrialists to manufacture white coconut oil under the Divi Neguma Programme. He instructed the officers to expedite the process.

The two ministers inquired into the delay in completion of the training programmes in some district.

Officials from Ceylon Industrial Development Board (IDB), National Crafts Council, National Design Centre, Palmyrah Development Board, National Engineering Research Centre, Industrial Technology Institution, Arthur C. Clerk Modern Technology Centre, Vidatha Centre, Sri Lanka Standard Institution, Sri Lanka Handicrafts Board, Lak Salusela, Textile Department, Sri Lanka Textile and Garment Institution, National Entrepreneur Development Authority, Export Development and Small Enterprise Development Sector, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry Secretary Sivagnanasothy also participated.