n Job opportunities for youth:

N-E industrial ventures to be reactivated

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

Mineral Sands, Paranthan Chemicals, Cement Corporation and other industrial institutions located in the Northern and Eastern Provinces have to be reactivated before the middle of next year, said State Resources and Enterprise Development Minister Dayashritha Tissera.

He said job opportunities have to be provided to the youth in those areas to strengthen their means of livelihood.

The State Resources and Enterprise Development Ministry was set up six months ago, having taken over 26 non-functional and loss-making State institutions under its purview. Minister Tissera said the Ministry has succeeded in transforming some ventures as plantation companies and Mavanalla Rubber Manufacturing Company into profit-earning bodies within six months under the guidance of former State Resources Minister and present Senior Minister of Food and Nutrition P. Dayaratna.

State Resources and Enterprise Development Ministry Secretary Dr. Willy Gamage said Laksala and Salusala have also achieved remarkable progress. The Treasury was relieved of the burden of paying the salaries of Salusala employees as a result of the managerial changes effected by his Ministry.

The Ministry has obtained Cabinet approval to reactivate cement, paper, sugar and ceramic corporations, he said. Dr. Gamage said that to introduce managerial changes, the 26 institutions which came under his Ministry were categorised into three-the already profit-making, those that could be made profitable and those running at a loss.