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Govt's objective to alleviate poverty - Minister Yapa

by Florence Wickramage

The Government of Sri Lanka is very much interested in developing the backward regions of the country with the objective of alleviating poverty of rural masses, providing gainful employment and increasing rural income.

Therefore the expansion of the sugar industry in Moneragala, Ampara, Hambantota, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura and Vavuniya no doubt would help alleviate poverty in these districts to a considerable extent.

These remarks were made by Plantation Industries Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa in his key note address at the inauguration of the Workshop on "Sugar Sector Development - Policy into Action" at the BMICH yesterday.

Of the three basic food items, rice, flour and sugar, sugar imports cost the country most to the tune of 12 billion rupees annually with another five billion rupees for value added sugar products.

Therefore the rationale should be to produce as much as possible within our shores and release the funds for the procurement of other goods that cannot be produced here but are essential for the development of the country, Minister Priyadharshana Yapa said.

Many programmes have been initiated globally to counteract the energy crisis by developing alternative sources and sugarcane is one of the most important cost effective sources used to produce bio-fuels.

Since Sri Lanka is also facing an energy crisis, the necessity to encourage the sugar industry to exploit its untapped potentials for the benefit of the nation was emphasised.

Minister Yapa also noted that the local sugar industry is now gearing towards producing electricity for the national grid as well. He assured the Government's blessings to the private sector initiatives towards this end and for pragmatic proposals to translate policy into action.

Deputy Minister Chamal Rajapakse, Director CEO, Sugarcane Research Institute Dr. M. W. N. Dharmawardene, Secretary Plantation Ministry J. Abeywickreme also addressed the inaugural sessions of the Workshop. Prof. Weeraratne delivered the vote of thanks.

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