Mario Andree reporting from Jaffna

Many businessmen and investors requesting support from the government, complained to a senior minister about the lack of support by the local authority for projects initiated in the Northern Province.

Investors highlighted the many obstacles placed in their way by the local authorities for their investments, at a forum organized by the country’s investment promotion agency, the Board of Investment.

According to them it was difficult to obtain approvals from the local authority, despite the government approving projects in the peninsula. Further, investors also complained of a severe labour shortage, despite the government claiming that the area would cater to the labour requirements of industries such as apparel.

Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told investors that the government would intervene and request the local authority to support investment projects.

The minister also said that the provincial and local authorities’ support to the government was poor and needed to be improved.

According to him the government would not be able to facilitate all the projects without the support of the local authority and his present visit to Jaffna was to initiate a dialogue.

So far the Northern Province has received 32 BOI approved projects worth more than Rs 30 billion out of which 18 projects worth Rs 11 billion have commenced commercial operations.

According to the minister the 32 projects in the North would create more than 7,000 job opportunities in the region that had been highlighted as a region where there was a high level of unemployment.

So far, major businesses such as Northern Power Company, TOKYO Cement, Yarl Hotels (A joint venture between MMBL-Pathfinder and Jetwing Hotels), Omega Line, Hirdaramani, MAS Active, MAS Intimates, Beta Power, Joule Power, Timex Garments, and Cairn Lanka, have invested in the Northern Province.

Courtesy:Ceylon Today