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| Sunday, 23 February 2003 |
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Chamber demands solutions to power problem The Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI) has requested the authorities to give a time schedule on the commencement date and the anticipated completion date of all major power projects in the country. "This will enable our member industrialists to make any commitment on future employment generation as well as help finalise future expansion plans," said Chairman CNCI Ranjith Hettiarachchy. He said the membership consisting of manufacturers is raising concerns over the delay in implementing long-term power generation projects which has increased production costs resulting in Sri Lanka being uncompetitive globally compared to its neighbours. The most affected industries are glass and ceramics as the power consumption in these industries is very high. "Most industrialists have reduced night shifts to the bare minimum as we have to pay Rs 14.20 per unit which is double the day time cost in addition to paying 1.5 times as overtime to workers," Hettiarachchy said. "Our members will find it very difficult unless the cost of power is reduced due to the growing competition from neighbouring countries, and adapting of invoiced value acceptance (under the World Trade Organisation) by Sri Lankan Customs which might help importers. "We have come to a point where we have to say 'Enough is enough'. Our Chamber would like the authorities to enlighten us on the following and if we are wrong, to tell us where we stand with regard to generating an economical and continuous power supply for industries. This will help our membership to decide on their future investments. "We have been hearing stories about very futuristic power generation projects for a long time, but unfortunately, none of these have been finalised. It appears that the Government has not addressed power issues with the seriousness they deserve." "How can the private sector progress under these circumstances when governing parties are not implementing a single proposal that will help even the ordinary citizen get power at a reasonable cost? Survival of industrialists and survival of society are not two different things; it is an accepted fact that both are inter-connected," he said. |
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