Industrial zones in remote areas

By Naalir Jamaldeen

The Government will take industries to the village. Industrial zones or parks will be set up in remote Divisional Secretariat Divisions while prominence has been given to Hambantota, Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told the media last week.

“We have also submitted a Cabinet paper to set up an industrial park in Kalladi Puttalam,” he said.Minister Abeywardena said that the industrial parks will be set up where enough labour is available. The locations have already been identified.

“President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed us to set up at least five industrial parks in each district.

Unemployment problems in villages would be solved with the implementation of these projects,” Abeywardena said.

The Minister said that large stretches of lands have been identified in the Pasgoda Divisional Secretariat Division in the Matara and Hakmana Divisional Secretariat Divisions.

A large extent of land has also been taken over in the Hambantota district to be developed as an industrial zone.

An industrial zone will also be set up in Kilinochchi. The Government has successfully completed the development of infrastructure facilities in the selected areas.“We have received 47 applications and lands have been allocated to 42 applicants.

Agreements have been signed with the industrialists. They hope to launch industries soon,” the Minister said.

He said that with the implementation of these projects the unemployment rate can be reduced to 4.2 percent. The Government has already reduced the unemployment to 4.5 percent.

The growth of the tourism sector will also help to reduce unemployment. The Minister said that agreements have been signed for about 40 projects.

He said that when compared to the first half of 2013, tourists arrivals have increased by 24.6 percent this year.

With the increase in tourist arrivals, it has become necessary to build more tourist hotels. Over 720,000 tourists have visited Sri Lanka from January to June. “Nearly 40-50 percent of the work in the approved projects, has been completed.

"We will complete the development work of the Hambantota project by November," Minister Abeywardene said.