Four Gamata Karmantha projects off the ground

Anjana SAMARASINGHE

NEW PROJECTS: Four projects initiated under the Gamata Karmantha programme have commenced commercial operations this year.

Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Industrial Development R. V. D Piyatilake told the Daily News, four companies initiated under the Gamata Karmantha project are doing their commercial productions now.

These projects are involved in garment accessories manufacturing, solid tyre manufacturing and producing asphalt for road development. The factories are located in the Puttalam district and the Hambantota district.

The tyre manufacturing project is targeted for the export market and asphalt is targeted to be used for local highway projects, he said.

So far the ministry has approved 60 projects under the Gamata Karmantha programme and expect 20 projects to commence commercial production in the first quarter of next year.

"We have approved nine new projects recently with a total investment of Rs. 877 million creating 2,015 job opportunities," Piyatilake said.

Cement roofing tile manufacturing, cinnamon processing, furniture and biscuit manufacturing, agri-products processing, tea and cashew processing and manufacturing cosmetics are among these projects.

These projects will be located in districts such as Anuradhapura, Kalutara, Matara, Galle, Badulla, Rathnapura and Puttalam.

The ministry has also approved a motorcycle manufacturing project in Kalutara.

Cement roofing tiles project will be a perfect solution for the shortage of clay in the local roofing tiles industry. Cashew processing project will create 200 jobs but it will be able to provide 800 jobs within five years time.

This project is targeted at the Japanese market. The cosmetics venture is aimed for the Indian market with a Rs. 52 million investment, he said.

The ministry has received eight more project proposals for approval and among these proposals there is proposal on a mini hydro power project too.

"We expect to evaluate these proposals by end of this month or at the beginning of next year," he said.