North-South business links
The authorities
have lost no time in trying to restore normality to the North,
which has just been cleared almost entirely of LTTE cadres,
except for a very limited area. This is a step in the right
direction as the restoration of normality and by extension,
democracy, is vital for the development of the North including
the Vanni.
Restoring transport and business links between the North and
the South should be one of the main strategies in this regard.
Indeed, this is already happening. The recent opening of the A9
road saw lorryloads of Northern produce arriving in Colombo for
the first time after many years. This will naturally be a boon
to the Northern economy, which slid into its nadir under Tiger
influence.
The Government is also planning to extend the Yal Devi
railway line, for which nearly Rs.11 million was collected in
just 10 minutes recently. Together, these measures will
certainly herald a new era for the North.
The Sinhala and Tamil New Year which is just around the
corner is an ideal opportunity to cement these lasting bonds
between Northern and Southern communities.
This being the first Sinhala and Tamil New Year that the
entire country is celebrating under one flag after at least two
decades, southerners should strive to extend the bonds of
friendship and brotherhood to Northerners. In this spirit, the
Government has initiated measures to ensure that all items are
freely available to the Northern people at reasonable prices
during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season.
The business community can and should play a major role in
this endeavour.
The Government has already decided to permit leading
Colombo-based companies and entrepreneurs to engage in business
activities in the North. Several leading companies have already
responded to this call and discussions are underway to
facilitate their entry to the North.
We hope the corporate sector will be a major stakeholder in
the Government’s drive to develop the North. There will be many
opportunities for the private sector in the fields of
reconstruction, infrastructure development, transport, telecom
and power systems and various services as Northern development
begins in earnest.
The major companies should consider setting up branch offices
in key Northern towns including Kilinochchi to facilitate their
logistical arrangements and to serve customers there. The North
has the potential to become one of the fastest growing provinces
in the country thanks to a resourceful people and the business
community should be part of this momentum.
The wonder plant
Gliricidia, known
scientifically as Gliricidia sepium, is now recognized as a
versatile plant for a variety of uses. Earlier, the leguminous
tree was only used for fencing purposes and not many recognized
its value. Things are changing fast, with the realization that
Gliricidia can be an economical alternative to traditional
non-renewable fuel sources. It does not need extensive care to
grow and even less fertile soils are not a problem.
The recent hike in oil prices was an eye-opener for private
companies and Government authorities that sustainable
alternatives have to be found for fossil fuels. In fact, several
large-scale oil users have already converted to Gliricidia.
In one instance, it was found that the use of Gliricidia
sticks had saved over 75 percent of a tile manufacturer’s LPG
bill. It is better for the environment as well, as emissions are
much less. Several products that use Gliricidia wood have been
introduced for the domestic market as well.
The latest Gliricidia venture uses the plant to turn out
animal feed mainly for export. The Board of Investment has
granted approval to set up a project to manufacture animal food
from Gliricidia at a factory at Maha Iluppallama, Anuradhapura
and later in Puttalam. The US$ 250,000 project undertaken by a
foreign company will obtain the raw materials from Gliricidia
plants which will be grown at a 3,200 acre plantation.
This is a commendable step that will also generate employment
for youth in these regions. More than 50,000 farmers growing
Gliricidia will also benefit. Universities and research bodies
must conduct more research on this versatile plant, especially
its medicinal properties, in order to make maximum use of it.
It is also believed that the plant could act as a natural
agent against certain soil nematodes, insects and fungi. There
should be more sustainable cultivations of Gliricidia, which can
also be grown as an interim crop along with a main crop.
The authorities should also give priority to ventures of this
nature that make use of locally grown or available raw materials
instead of importing them only for value addition. Incentives
should be given to individuals and companies who find new uses
for naturally available products such as Gliricidia. Such
innovations could lead to a massive saving of funds and to a
better environment. |