Okanda Finance launches development projects

In keeping with the 'Mahinda Chintana" concept the Okanda Group has launched several development projects.

The Okanda concept is to develop the country and earn profits for the company. Keeping this in mind we established the "Wayamba Development Farming Corporation Limited" mainly to develop the North Western Province.

The main projects we have undertaken in this area are "Okanda Dairies" Milk Factory and "Green Rewards" Teak Plantation Project in Puttalam. Another important Project launched in the Sabaragamuwa Province is the Mini Hydro Power Project at Maliboda, Deraniyagala. We had to face a series of obstacles in getting approvals for this project from several state agencies, said Director Okanda Group M. B. D. Silva.

He said due to these obstacles we have been disappointed about the lethargic attitude of certain government institutions, and in fact we were about to give up the idea of launching this project, as this dragged on for nearly five years.

However, due to the encouragement given to local entrepreneurs by President Mahinda Rajapaksa we were able to get all the approvals from state agencies.

The hydro power project was launched at Maliboda, Dikelikanda, in Deraniyagala. With the establishment of this project Okanda Finance has undertaken to provide several infrastructure facilities, such as electricity and motorable roads to the poor villagers of the area at the company's expense.

The company is in a position to do all these due to the success of some completed projects. According to the forecasts the company can earn an income of Rs. 4.3 billion (around Rs. 4,300 million) in 2020 from the "Green Rewards" Teak Plantation alone. This income will be derived from local sale of timber as well as from exports.

Our teak plantation has become a model teak plantation in Sri Lanka due to the expert guidance given by Prof. Morley Pandula De Silva of the University of Ruhuna. De Silva has recommended our teak plantation as a model teak plantation to university students and other researchers interested in teak plantations. Okanda Finance has even arranged free accommodation for such researchers.