Puttalam Investment Promotion Zone taking shape
Shirajiv Sirimane
PROJECTS: The construction of the Puttalam Investment
Promotion Zone would commence before end of this year said the Minister
of Investment Promotion Naween Dissnayake. Minister who toured Puttlam
last Wednesday said that a 350-acre land has being identified for the
project.
The Minister also met the families who were living in this identified
area and discussed as to how they should be relocated and how
compensation would be paid for them.
"The resident were happy in the manner in which we approach them and
they are happy to be relocated and there were no objections," the
Minister said. Dissnayake said that the new BoI zone would attract over
20 investors initially and these projects are expected to generate over
10, 000 employment opportunities.
He said that in addition to inspecting the land and approving the
site they also met officials from the
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A road across a lagoon is being built in Putalam district.
Infrastructure facilities have become a “must” to this district.
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Electricity Board and discussed with the Puttlam Government
agent, H. M. Herath as to how to get water to the proposed zone. The
officials concerned have promised to provide water and electricity not
only to the proposed zone but also to the area where the families would
be relocated.
"This was one of the main reasons for the government to select
Puttlam for this Free Trade Zone. The investments and employment that
would bring in to the area as a result of the BoI would help uplift the
life styles of the under privileged people in the area," he said.
The Government is expected invest around Rs. 200 for each for these
three zones to provide infrastructure facilities to the investors. These
would include, providing electricity, water, telecom, sewerage, road and
rail networks.
Minister said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is keen that economic
benefits should be spread equally to the underprivileged districts such
as Hambantota, Puttalam, Matara and Trincomalee to close the gap between
the districts which enjoy high GDP rates.
The economic zone should bring in investments to these areas, which
would help to generate employment for the under privileged people living
in these areas. |
