Northern peninsula industrial sector blooms

By Naalir Jamaldeen

The industrial sector in the Northern peninsula has bloomed. Expatriates from Jaffna are keen to invest in the North.

Infrastructure facilities in the North which were devastated during the war against terrorism has been reconstructed. The Jaffna Railway Station and Delft Divisional Secretariat office will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on October 13, Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told the Sunday Observer after his recent visit to the North.

Minister Abeywardena also visited the Mannar Jetty which is being renovated by the Navy. Minister Abeywardena who visited the Delft Island explored the possibility of promoting tourism in the island. The Government aims to provide electricity to 95 percent of the people in the North by January. Minister Abeywardena held discussions with the business community during his visit to the North.

The Government has given high priority to rebuild infrastructure including access roads, electricity, irrigation, water, market facilities, public parks, sewerage and waste water disposal systems to boost the economy in the Northern province, the Minister said.

The Minister said that Rs. 428 million had been invested in the North to set up four projects providing 419 job opportunities from 1995 to 2005, while Rs. 66,712 million had been invested on 26 projects in the North providing 4,833 job opportunities, from 2005 to 2013.

The Government has made huge investments in the North this year.

Under the Uthuru Wasanthaya program Rs. 8,865.33 million was invested in the North from 2009 to 2012. The total investments in the North were Rs. 12,296.78 million, the Minister said.