Funds to develop infrastructure facilities – Douglas

President Mahinda Rajapaksa set aside Rs 300 million from the midterm budget for the development of infrastructure facilities, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda said. Rs 40 million from this will be used to develop roads, drinking water facilities and provide electricity to industrial estates under the Industrial Development Board, the minister said.

Devananda at a meeting with industrialists from several Industrial Estates at the ministry auditorium discussed problems faced by industrialists from Panaluwa, Pallekelle and Horana. The industrialists aired their views on infrastructure facilities, enhanced land rental and transfer of ownership of land. The minister said he would sort the issues following discussions with the President.

He said Rs 10 million had been allocated to develop internal roads including other infrastructure facilities at the Pallekelle Industrial Estate, Rs 3 million had been allocated to develop drinking water including other infrastructure facilities at Panaluwa Industrial Estate and funds provided to develop internal roads and other infrastructure facilities at Matale Kaludewala Industrial Estate, Devananda said.

The industrialists said they were unable bear the enhanced land rental imposed on them and urged the minister's intervention to provide relief on this matter. The minister said this was not an Industrial Development Board decision, but a measure taken by the government valuer in accordance with the government's tax policies.

Devananda said he would make it a point to speak to other ministers about this matter and provide relief in the near future. The minister said he would speak to the President as well, about the difficulties the industrialists were facing and take appropriate measures to provide them with concessions. Devananda said he will visit all 18 Industrial Estates in the country to look into the problems faced by the industrialists.