On initiative by Traditional Industries Ministry:

Elephant Pass Saltern gears for re-start

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry is now laying a strong foundation to address unemployment among the Northern population after re-opening industries which were not functional due to prevalent of terrorism and by opening a new industrial estate to start new industries, a Ministry spokesman told the Sunday Observer.

The spokesman said Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry is taking speedy steps under the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to restart the Elephant Pass slattern considered as the biggest saltern in the country after it was handed over to the Ministry by Sri Lanka Army completing the de-mining process.

"The Saltern was handed over to the Ministry on August 13 and we are taking steps to make it functional by the end of this year. Once it become operational it can generate more than 4,000 job opportunities for the Northern population", he added.

A large number of people who had deprived of their livelihood due to the closure of the saltern and some of the workers have been compensated with the involvement of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda.

The Elephant Pass Saltern can produce 70 to 80 metric tonnes of salt per year to meet the salt demand of the country and for the export market.

According to statistics only about 60% of the current annual salt requirement of the country is produced locally and the remaining 40% is imported at a cost of nearly Rs. 380 million.

He said the salt produced at Elephant Pass saltern is comparatively pure compared to the slat produced at other salterns in the country.

Sri Lanka Army de-mining unit "Das" has completed the de-mining of the saltern, which extended over 1,800 acres facilitating the commencement of the work at the saltern very soon.

The spokesman said that Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister, Douglas Devananda is also taking steps to restart Paranthyan Chemical Factory to provide job opportunities for another set of Northerners and also to manufacturing of caustic soda, chlorine and sulphuric acid.

With the commencement of productions at the Paranthan Chemical Factory would meet the requirement of chlorine needed by the Water Supply Board for the purification of water.

Apart from this, Traditional Industries Small Enterprises Development Ministry in collaboration with the Economic Development Ministry is now completing the infrastructure facilities at the Achchuveli Industrial park at a cost of Rs.218 million. Many investors have agreed to start their industries at this 65 acre Industrial Estate in Achchuveli.

According to the Secretary to the Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development four major Apparel Manufacturers have decided to establish manufacturing units in the Achchuveli Industrial Estate and they will be provided with 25 acres of land to set up their industries with investments amounting to over 12 million US dollars.

The Ministry together with the Board of Investment (BOI) is planning to support four major companies - MAS Holdings, Omega Lines, Orix and Timex to set up these factories which would generate employment for over 4,000 persons.