SEMA identifies potential sites for hydro power projects

The Strategic Enterprise Management Agency (SEMA) has identified 17 potential sites to set up hydro power stations and negotiations are already under way to commence work on four projects, said Director Plantations, SEMA, Dr. Sunil Jayasekara.

He was addressing the Plantation Development Forum organised by the Ministry of Public Estate Management and Development and the SEMA.

Dr. Jayasekara said the plantation sector has the potential to develop industries such as eco-tourism, horticulture, dairy farming, dolomite, inter cropping and cut flowers.

"SEMA will ensure investors that bureaucracy and other procedural difficulties will be minimised to launch projects. The Agency will promote public private partnerships for viable ventures", he said.

Secretary, Ministry of Public Estate Management and Development, Dr. Parakrama Ekanayake said privatisation has become an option since public institutions are inefficient. The private public partnership built by SEMA has helped to transform industries into profit making ventures.

He said the public sector alone cannot achieve results. The collaboration of both sectors is vital to make good use of the resources.

Governor, Central Bank, Ajith Nivard Cabraal said people believe that if the government manages an institution it will be inefficient but SEMA has helped to change that opinion by making institutions profitable and efficient through partnerships.

SEMA with the assistance of the Ministries and Boards have launched programs to turnaround the plantations to be productive and profitable enterprises by implementing scientific development programs.

SEMA was set up under Article 33 of the Constitution in 2005 to facilitate and ensure efficient management of state owned enterprises that will not be privatised, but be managed by independent enterprises without depending on state subsidies.