In his address, Douglas Devananda, Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development noted that the Government of India has been providing assistance for a variety of projects covering different sectors to help the people of Sri Lanka.
The High Commissioner, in his remarks, emphasized that India and Sri Lanka share a dynamic and multi-faceted relationship, rooted in history, language, culture, religion and trade These relations have matured and diversified with the passage of time, encompassing all areas of contemporary relevance. The High Commissioner congratulated the Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Development of Sri Lanka and the Industrial Development Board of Sri Lanka for facilitating the completion of the Project and hoped that this project would promote industrial development in the Jaffna peninsula.
The Industrial Estate is expected to attract potential investors, from within and outside Sri Lanka, by providing suitable infrastructure and amenities. The infrastructure includes boundary wall, internal road network, service buildings, water supply system with treatment plant, power supply and external electrical work with street lighting, sewerage, waste water disposal system, fire protection system, and landscaping. In Phase I of the Project, 25 acres of land have been developed, which will facilitate setting up of 22 industrial units and provide employment opportunities for approximately 2,000 persons directly and to approximately 10,000 persons indirectly. Overall, the Industrial Estate will help serve as a platform for industrial development of the region, for regeneration of livelihood in Northern Province and for optimal utilization of local resources.
The targeted sectors for investment in the Industrial Estate include textiles, plastic and leather products, oil and fibre products, food processing units, and agro-based industries. Once the Northern Railway Project being executed with Indian assistance rehabilitates the rail link upto Jaffna by September 2014, access to the Industrial Estate would be enhanced, thus, providing further stimulus to the business activities therein.
The Estate has been set up through grant assistance of SLR 220 million by Government of India, and was implemented successfully with the cooperation of the Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development of Sri Lanka. Necessary technical expertise and project management services were provided by the UNOPS. The Industrial Development Board of Sri Lanka will henceforth manage the Estate.
Government of India has been implementing a variety of multi-sectoral projects in Sri Lanka based on the needs and priorities identified by both countries. India's portfolio of development projects now encompasses virtually all major sectors of the economy, including housing, infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, fisheries, industry, handicrafts and culture. A major share of the resources are devoted for the Housing Project involving construction of 50,000 houses and with a commitment of over US$ 270 million, thereby making it the flagship project of Indian grant assistance to Sri Lanka.
Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda, Dy. Minister of Traditional Industries & Small Enterprise Development Weerakumara Dissanayake, Governor of Northern Province G.A.Chandrasiri, Chief Minister of Northern Province C.V.Wigneswaran, Mayor of Jaffna Yogeswary Patkunarajah, Secretary, Ministry of Traditional Industries & Small Enterprise Development V.Sivagnanansothy, Chief Secretary of Northern Province Mrs. R.Wijialudchumi, Chairman, Industrial Development Board of Sri Lanka Nawaz Rajabdeen and other senior officials of the Government of Sri Lanka participated in the event.
