Industries in North back to life

by L. S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

The large scale State owned cement, salt and chemical industries in the North which remained defunct during the LTTE terrorism will come into operation soon said. Industrial Development Ministry Secretary R.V.D. Piyatilake.

The recommissioning of these important industries is under way. The ministry has already received inquiries from investors, he said.

A high powered Ministerial team headed by Industrial Development Minister Kumara Welgama visited the North recently. He said that the Kankesanturai Cement factory will go into production early next year.

The 'Kankesan cement factory with its one thousand acre 'Klinker' rich area which is in the high security zone at present would be re-commissioned after receiving the 'green light' from the Government.

Requests received from both local and foreign investors to recommence the operation are being perused, he added.

Sri Lanka produces a little more than two million tonnes of cement as against the domestic requirement estimated to be about five million tonnes. KKS cement factory produced the high quality "Kankesan cement" 20 years ago during which time manufacturing capacity was one million tonnes per year, he said.

Piyatileka said that Paranthan Chemicals Company had stopped its production activities since 1985 due to LTTE terrorist activities.

All chemical components such as caustic soda, chlorine, and sulphuric acid were imported during the last few years. The Ministry has already identified a suitable investor from Austria to develop the Paranthan chemical plant.

It is estimated that an input of Rs. one billion is needed to carry out the future development plan.

The six hundred and fifty acre Elephant Pass saltern in the past had produced fifty thousand tonnes of high quality salt.

The ministry plans to commence salt production immediately after receiving government approval since it is located in the high security zone.

Last year Sri Lanka experienced a shortage of forty thousand Tonnes of salt. Once the Elephant Pass Saltern commences productions it will be able to offset the shortage in the domestic market, he said.

Medium scale salterns in Mannar, and Jaffna districts which will be expanded and the production started in the near future, according to the Ministry Secretary.