NCPC to upgrade agro-based industries

Nimal Wijesinghe-Anuradhapura Additional District group corr

The North Central Provincial Council will promote agro-based industries in the province in collaboration with the Central Government.

North Central Chief Minister Ranjith Samarakoon told the Daily News that there is a capacity in the region, to start fruit canning, vegetable oil manufacturing using maize and soya, fertilizer manufacturing and light engineering workshops for manufacturing agricultural appliances.

The Chief Minister toured in the province to get first hand information in this regard recently.

The Chief Minister visited the Eppawala Rock Phosphate industry. He was appraised of the progress being made at the factory by chairman Admiral Daya Sandagiri and General Manager Upul Kumarasena. In 2008, the production of apatite (Rock Phosphate) had been 41,947 metric tons, 36,347 and 47,778 metric tons respectively in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, under the business expansion policies, the factory has produced 58,254 metric tons of apatite.

The Chief Minister said though several leaders tried to sell Eppawala Phosphate mines to the private sector, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has revived the industry to reach at a profit gaining level.

The Chief Minister said that the North Central Provincial Council would assist the factory management to expand its activities.