Industrial promotion with modern technology is a basic requirement for the development of the country – Minister of Industries
Industrial promotion with modern technology is a basic requirement for the development of the country – Minister of Industries Dr Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Industries and Plantation said that the main factor for the economic development of a country is the industrial promotion carried out in the country along with the updated technology. The minister pointed out that this morning, joining the inauguration of the newly established Science and Technology Business Center (S&T Business Center), Petroleum & Lubricant Testing Laboratory and Pharmaceutical Testing Laboratory at the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) operating under the Ministry of Industries. The Minister stated that in the past seventy-five years after independence, the government investment made for the industrial industry sector was very less compared to other sectors and it had affected the economic development of the country. The Minister further expressed that the government was taking measures to change this situation quickly. As well, the Minister expressed his thanks to the Industrial Technology Institute for its contribution to introducing innovative industries and maintaining the technical standards of industrial products. He also stated that everyone should work together as a country for an export-oriented industrial economy. Industrial Technology Institute (ITI)established in 1955, is a multidisciplinary national organization recognized locally as well as internationally and has been operating as a market-leading partner for its clients and stakeholders. Over the past few years, ITI has provided services to companies doing business in domestic and export markets, national infrastructure development projects and overseas industries. ITI provides technical services, laboratory services as well as research and development work. Those are based on the fields of Environmental Technology (ET), Food Technology (FT), Herbal Technology (HTD), Material Technology (MT) and Engineering Services. The divisions and laboratories opened today also join the standardized industrial development related to the country’s products. Dr G.A.S. Premakumara, chairman of the Industrial Technology Institute, its officials, and a group of dignitaries from many other public and private institutions attended this event.
A program should be prepared to encourage industries through school education – Minister of Industries
A program should be prepared to encourage industries through school education – Minister of Industries All successive governments after independence have made public investments on a large scale for the development of education, health, agriculture, social infrastructure, etc., but the investment made for the development of the industries is very little. Minister of Plantation and Industries Dr. Ramesh Pathirana pointed out that these are the causes of the present economic crisis. The minister revealed this while participating at the Sri Lanka Packaging Awards Ceremony, organized by the Sri Lanka Institute of Packaging, held yesterday (November 3) evening at the Galadari Hotel in Colombo. This festival presents awards for excellence in Sri Lankan packaging and was organized by Sri Lanka Packaging Institute established in 1967 and is an active member of the Asian Packaging Federation and the World Packaging Organization. For the promotion of the packaging industry in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Packaging Institute carries out many activities such as organizing international packaging exhibitions, conducting conferences, conducting workshops, foreign trips, and providing consultancy. Simultaneously with the 17th Asian Packaging Congress in 1987 and Lanka pack 87 packaging exhibition, this institute started Sri Lanka Packaging Awards Ceremony in the country. Later, a student competition for excellence in packaging was started in 2001 to evaluate students engaged in packaging design activities in their educational institutions and universities. In the past years, Sri Lanka Packaging Award winners have also been able to participate in the prestigious Asia Star and World Star competitions held annually in various countries. Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards were granted at the festival held in 2022 for excellence in packaging for three years, including 2020 and 2021, which could not be held, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There, awards were presented for several creative, environment-friendly sectors, and many leading organizations in the packaging industry in Sri Lanka, as well as the Election Commission as a government institution also received awards. The Asia Star and World Star winners were awarded by the minister. This festival demonstrated that the Sri Lankan packaging industry is very vibrant, ready, and equipped to support the country’s industrial development. In this award ceremony, the minister further pointed out the importance of vocational education for the development of industries in a country and the promotion of all industries-related fields technologically for the necessity of economic progress. Deshmanya Rohan Wijesinghe, Chairman of Sri Lanka Packaging Institute, Mr. Chaminda Pathiraja Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Industries, Dr. Saranga Alahapperuma, Chairman of Sri Lanka Industrial Development Board, Ministry officials, and heads of organizations in the packaging industry were present at this occasion.
Micro, small and medium enterprises are given maximum support to overcome the existing situation – Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Industries
Women and children are mostly affected by the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka – Ms. Mikiko Tanaka, Head of the South and Southwest Asia Sub-regional Office ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) Micro, small and medium enterprises are given maximum support to overcome the existing situation – Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Industries Ms. Mikiko Tanaka, Head of the South and Southwest Asia Office of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)said that she observed how women and children were suffering mostly due to the severe economic crisis that Sri Lanka is currently facing. She further said that there is a chance of securing women and children in the family environment by promoting micro and small-scale women entrepreneurs. She explained this while participating in a special discussion held at the Ministry of Industries with Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Plantation and Industries today (02). Ms. Mikiko Tanaka further added that UESCAP has already implemented many programs to promote the development of enterprises in Sri Lanka and her organization will continue to support Sri Lanka in the future. She said that the promotion of women’s entrepreneurship in the micro and small-scale sectors was discussed at length, especially under the current economic situation. Dr. Ramesh Pathirana stated that the ministry and the government are already working to promote micro and small-scale women entrepreneurs by covering every district. Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said that several programs have been implemented by the Ministry of Industries for this purpose and they are going to the micro and small-scale women entrepreneurs at the rural level, providing them with the necessary facilities and measures to uplift them. The minister further pointed out the importance of manufacturing and using environmentally friendly packaging made from natural materials by micro, small and medium enterprises using available 62 kinds of raw materials like palm, coconut, bamboo, and clay in Sri Lanka. The minister said that many new job opportunities could be created by promoting the production of packaging made from such natural ingredients and this was a great help to reduce the use of polythene and plastic. Minister expressed that he hops for the support of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia and Pacific Region (ESCAP)for this purpose Ms. Mikiko Tanaka said that her organization would support the development and promotion of enterprises in more than 20 countries and would provide the necessary support for the promotion of enterprises in Sri Lanka as well as for the production of packaging using environmentally friendly natural materials as an industry. A group of officials including Mrs.Thilaka Jayasundara, Secretary of the Ministry of Industries, Mr. Janaka Dharmakeerthy, Secretary of the Ministry of Plantation, Dr. Saranga Alahapperuma, Chairman of the Ceylon Industrial Development Board, Mr. Sampath Arehapola, Chairman of the National Crafts Council, and Mr. Denzil Perera, Chairman of Laksala participated in this discussion.
To compete with the world product market, all industries should be empowered with technology- Minister of Industries
To compete with the world product market, all industries should be empowered with technology- Minister of Industries ———————————————— Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Plantation and Industries, joined this morning (October 24) to inspect the head office of the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) at Bauddaloka Mawatha and the technology service premises at Vidya Mawatha as well as Malambe, coming under the purview of the Ministry of Industries. The Industrial Technology Institute, which was established in 1955 and empowered by the Science and Technology Act of 1994, is currently a major institution that provides technical empowerment for the development of industries in the country. As well, conducting technological research and development for industries, providing internationally competitive technical services, conducting research and development work on post-harvest technology, food, herbal, materials, environment and biotechnology, and providing laboratory technology facilities for various products… etc are done by the institution. During the inspection, the progress review of the ITI was conducted and the ITI management also presented the Scientific and Industrial Resource Management Structural Plan for future generations. The minister further stated that the government investment in industries should be increased and the purpose of the Industrial Technology Institute should be strengthened and new technological approaches should be introduced more and more for all industries. Also, the minister pointed out that to compete with the world demand for production and achieve more economic benefits for the country, industries should be implemented modern technical methods. He further stated that the products that have attracted the world’s attention through traditional industries should be combined with modern technology and brought to the world through a value-chain production program Many dignitaries including Dr. Sirimal Premakumara, Chairman of the Industrial Technology Institute, Dr. Saranga Alahapperuma, Chairman of Ceylon Industrial Development Board, Prof. Radhika Samarasekera, Prof. Ranjith Jayasekara, Prof. Atula Perera, Ministry officials, and ITI officials attended for this event.
The Minister of Industries is taking necessary steps to resume the production of Paranthan Chemical Factory soon
The Minister of Industries is taking necessary steps to resume the production of Paranthan Chemical Factory soon Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Plantation and Industries, recently joined an observation tour of Paranthan Chemical Factory premises in Kilinochchi district of the Northern Province. This Paranthan factory, which was started as the government chemical factory in the year 1954, produced liquid chlorine, hydrochloric acid, zinc chloride and ferric chloride using salt as the main raw material. Due to the war situation, the production activities have been halted since 1985 and currently the company is importing and distributing chlorine, caustic soda and hydrochloric acid required for local industries. Apart from that, Paranthan Chemical Company manufactures bleaching liquid, caustic liquid through a value addition process and is engaged in the process of processing emergency protective equipment kits for chlorine consumers. Speaking during the observation tour, the minister stated that since it is the government’s policy to increase exports and reduce imports and increase import substitution products, the feasibility study, planning, business development and procurement work currently being done to restart Paranthan Chemical Plant will be expedited and the economic benefits of that industry will be achieved for the country as soon as possible. . The Minister further stated that Paranthan Chemical Industries will be started immediately. At present, the Paranthan Chemical Factory is in the process of starting the production of caustic soda, chlorine, and the production of hydrochloric acid and poly aluminum chloride. Also, feasibility studies related to the production of household chemicals such as toilet cleaners, hand washing liquids, car washes, car washes, urea fertilizer production, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, sodium carbonate production and planning and business development work are being carried out. The procurement process will be started soon. The Paranthan chemical plant premises is 202 acres and in addition to the 25 acres used for the factory premises, the remaining space will be set up as a separate industrial park for the chemical factories themselves. Within that chemical industrial park, there will be an opportunity to remove and re-install the factories that have environmental and social problems in other parts of the country and to start new factories. Sudesh Nandasiri, Chairman of Paranthan Chemicals Company, Ministry officials and many others joined this event.
Elephant Pass Saltern is promoted positively to increase national salt production capacity – Minister of Industries
Elephant Pass Saltern is promoted positively to increase national salt production capacity – Minister of Industries Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Plantation and Industries, recently visited the Elephant Pass Saltern under the National Salt Company of the Ministry of Industries to inquire about the current progress. The salt production of Elephant Pass Salt Company which was re-established in 2016, was 5211 metric tons in 2021. As well, under the new value addition projects, a table salt plant with a capacity of 5 metric tons per hour will be established in Elephant Pass Saltern to meet the table salt needs of consumers. Minister stated that through the promotion of the activities of the Elephant Pass Saltern, its economic benefits will be achieved for the people of the Northern Province and the economy of the country as a whole. He further stated that based on the financial progress achieved by the Elephant Pass Saltern, the economy of its employees will also be positively promoted. Ministry officials also joined the occasion.
Necessary activities are being carried out to achieve the maximum economic benefit of mineral and mineral sand resources for the country – Minister of Industries
Necessary activities are being carried out to achieve the maximum economic benefit of mineral and mineral sand resources for the country – Minister of Industries A special discussion of the Ministerial Advisory Committee established under the Ministry of Industries for minerals and mineral sand resources was held this morning at the Ministry under the chairmanship of Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, the Minister of Plantations and Industries. During this discussion, the need to implement value-added production projects for mineral and mineral sand resources and the problems and obstacles were discussed at length The minister said that the mineral and mineral sand resources in Sri Lanka should be systematically explored in situ, qualitatively, and quantitatively, and value-added production programs should be implemented promptly. The minister further stated that to produce value-added products, special attention should be paid to the world’s innovative technology, current trends, and global market conditions. He explained that more economic benefits could be achieved for the country through this. During this discussion, necessary measures were discussed to formulate a specific program to streamline the value chain products as well as to provide maximum facilities to related companies, industrialists, and entrepreneurs. It was also agreed to create a formal conversation based on technology in the country under global conditions. A group of dignitaries including Professor Ajith De Alwis, Professor Atula Senaratne, Thilaka Jayasundara, Secretary, Ministry of Industries, Additional Secretaries Ranjith Wimalasuriya and Chaminda Pathiraja, Chairman of Ceylon Mineral Sand Company, chairman of Ceylon Industrial Development Board, chairman of Kahatagaha Graphite Ceylon Company, chairman of Geological Survey and Mining Bureau, officials and industrialists represented this discussion and Prof. Amila Ratnayake, Prof. H.M.T.G.A . Pitawala, Prof. Gamini Rajapaksa and Dr. L.P.S. Rohitha also joined this event through Zoom technology.
දේශීය සම්පත් ආරක්ෂා කරගනිමින් අයෝජකයන්ට ඇති ඉඩ ප්රස්ථාවන් පුළුල් කරනවා ” – වැවිලි කර්මාන්ත හා කර්මාන්ත ඇමති
“දේශීය සම්පත් ආරක්ෂා කරගනිමින් අයෝජකයන්ට ඇති ඉඩ ප්රස්ථාවන් පුළුල් කරනවා “ – වැවිලි කර්මාන්ත හා කර්මාන්ත ඇමති ” උපරිම පහසුකම් සලසමින් ආයෝජකයන්ට මෙරට තුළ නිදහස් වටපිටාවක් නිර්මාණය කරනවා “ – ආයෝජන ප්රවර්ධන ඇමති දෙස් විදෙස් ආයෝජකයන් සදහා උපරිම පහසුකම් සහිත ඉඩ ප්රස්ථා සලසාදීමේ විධිමත් වැඩපිළිවෙළක් ක්රියාත්මක කිරීමේ අරමුණෙන් , වැවිලි කර්මාන්ත හා කර්මාන්ත අමාත්ය වෛද්ය රමේෂ් පතිරණ මහතා සහ ආයෝජන ප්රවර්ධන අමාත්ය දිලුම් අමුණුගම මහතා අතර විශේෂ සාකච්ඡාවක් අද ( 11 ) ආයෝජන ප්රවර්ධන අමාත්යංශ පරිශ්රයේදී පැවැත්විණි. එහිදී අදහස් දක්වමින් වැවිලි කර්මාන්ත හා කර්මාන්ත අමාත්යවරයා සදහන් කලේ මේ වනවිටත් අපනයන ආර්ථිකය ප්රවර්ධනය කිරීම ඉලක්ක කරගනිමින් ආයතන ගණනාවකම අගය එකතුකල නිෂ්පාදන වැඩපිළිවෙළවල් ගණනාවක් ක්රියාත්මක වන බවත් කන්කසන්තුරේ සිමෙන්ති කම්හල , පරන්තන් රසායනික කම්හල , ලුණු සමාගම , පිගන් සංස්ථාව ආදි ආයතන ගනනාවක් නව ආයෝජකයන් සහිතව ආරම්භ කිරීමේ වැඩ කටයුතුත් ක්රියාත්මක කරමින් සිටින බවයි. එමෙන්ම ඉදිරියේදී රජයේ ඉඩම් ආයෝජනයන් සදහා නිදහස් කිරීමේදී එක ආයතනයක් හරහා පමණක් නිදහස් කිරීමට ඉඩම් බැංකුවක් ( Land bank ) නිර්මාණය කිරීමට කටයුතු කරමින් සිටින බවත් අමාත්යවරයා තවදුරටත් සදහන් කලේය. එහිදී ආයෝජන ප්රවර්ධන අමාත්යවරයා අදහස් දක්වමින් ප්රකාශ කලේ මෙරට තුළ ආයෝජනය කිරීමට පැමිණෙන්නන් හට ඊට අවශ්ය නීතිමය හා ප්රායෝගික තත්වයන් සියල්ල අමාත්යංශය මැදිහත්වීමෙන් නිරාකරණය කොට දෙමින් උපරිම නිදහස් වටපිටාවක් සලසා දෙන බවයි. ඒ වෙනුවෙන් IFC (ඉන්වෙස්ට්මන් ෆැසිලිටේට්ස් සෙන්ටර් ) සහ IFCC (ඉන්වෙස්ට්මන් ෆැසිලිටේට්ස් සෙන්ටර් කමිටි ) ඇති කොට ක්රියාත්මක කරමින් සිටින බවයි. එමෙන්ම ලංකා කාර්මික සංවර්ධන මණ්ඩලය ( IDB ) , ආයෝජන ප්රවර්ධන මණ්ඩලය (BOI) සහ අපනයන සංවර්ධන මණ්ඩලය ( EDB ) ක්රියාත්මක කරන ඒකාබද්ධ යාන්ත්රණයක් තුළින් ආයෝජන අවස්ථා වැඩිකරගැනීමට කටයුතු කලයුතු බවත් සදහන් කලේය. මෙම සාකච්ඡාව තුලදී වැඩි ආයෝජන ඉඩ ප්රස්ථාවන් ඇති ඛනිජ වැලි ආදි කර්මාන්තයන් පිළිබඳව පුළුල්ව සාකච්ඡාවට ලක්කෙරුණු අතර විධිමත් ඉදිරි සැලසුමක් ඔස්සේ එහි ආර්ථික ප්රතිලාභයන් රටට අත්කර දීමේ ක්රමවේදයක් නිර්මාණය කිරීමටද සාකච්ඡා කෙරිණි. මෙම අවස්ථාවට කර්මාන්ත අමාත්යංශයේ ලේකම් තිලකා ජයසුන්දර , කර්මාන්ත අමාත්යංශයේ සහ ආයෝජන ප්රවර්ධන අමාත්යංශයේ අතිරේක ලේකම්වරු , ලංකා කාර්මික සංවර්ධන මණ්ඩලය, භූ විද්යා සමීක්ෂණ හා පතල් කැණීම් කාර්යංශය, අපනයන සංවර්ධන මණ්ඩලය , ආයෝජන ප්රවර්ධන මණ්ඩලය , ලංකා ඛනිජ වැලි සමාගම ආදි රේඛීය ආයතන ගණනාවක සභාපතිවරුන් , අධ්යක්ෂ ජනරාල් වරු ඇතුළු නිළධාරින් රැසක්ද එක්ව සිටියහ.
The private sector has a good opportunity to advance in the construction sector. Dr. Ramesh Pathirana –Minister Industries
The private sector has a good opportunity to advance in the construction sector. Dr. Ramesh Pathirana –Minister Industries Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Industries reveals that due to the current economic situation in the country, the government involvement in the construction sector has decreased, creating an opportunity for the private sector to go forward in that sector. The minister said this today (7th) while participating in the opening ceremony of the Art of Living 2022(Kedalla) exhibition held at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Hall. Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, who attended the event as the chief guest, expressed that “All of us are currently going through a challenging period. But I am sure that the near future will be more auspicious. The government has provided facilities for the import of raw materials required for industries even in the background of imposing import restrictions. In the current situation, there has been some setback in the construction sector carried out by the government. But a very good opportunity has arisen for the private sector to take advantage of the situation and advance in the construction sector. Also, this exhibition has created a very good opportunity for the industrialists and buyers engaged in this field. It should be highly appreciated that the industrialists engaged in the field of construction and home decoration have been given very good access to achieve their business goals. It should be appreciated that social care services such as the care of cancer patients and SOS Children’s Villages have been given an opportunity through this exhibition.” Kidella – Art of Living exhibition, which was organized for the first time in 2007, has created many high business opportunities for industrialists. Facilitating the realization of the housing dream of the Sri Lankan people is the foremost aspiration of this exhibition, and for that, with the participation of many institutions, they will be able to realize their housing dream under one roof. For the inauguration of the Kadella – Art of Living 2022 exhibition, Eugene Seneviratne, Assistant General Manager, Seylan Bank, Tirone Chandreskara, Managing Director, Asia Exhibition & Conventions Pvt., industrialists, and many others participated in the event.
Hundred-year-old “Varagoda Ceramic and Red Clay Center” back to the general public.
Hundred-year-old “Varagoda Ceramic and Red Clay Center” back to the general public. “There is a significant space for the Sri Lankan brand name in the world. It can be used to strengthen our export economy…” – Minister Ramesh Pathirana “If rural resources are appropriately identified, bringing foreign exchange into the country is an easy task…” – State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera Minister of Plantation and Industries Mr. Ramesh Pathirana says that there is a lot of space for the Sri Lankan brand in the world market and an export economy can be built by uplifting local industries with safety methods. The minister said this while addressing the ceremony held after the opening of Waragoda Ceramic and Red Clay Service Centers of the National Craft Council under the State Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises Development. The ceremony was held today (08) in the morning, at the premises of the Ceramic and Red Clay Service Center in Kelaniya Waragoda. This ceramic center, more than a hundred years old, has been crumbling for several decades. These centers formerly known as the clay school provided training to a large number of people engaged in the clay industry. Later, as the Waragoda Ceramic Center, the first ceramic training institute in Sri Lanka, a large mission related to the rural industry was carried out. With the intervention of State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera, this center which was renovated by the National Craft Council , and the training and production resumed today. This gives the opportunity to develop short-term and long-term courses to engage in the field. Mr. Ramesh Pathirana further said that the right thing should be done to revive the local industries that have declined with the open economy, the opportunities for the local industrialists to compete with the export market should be expanded, and import substitution industries should be promoted. Speaking there, State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera said that it is possible to overcome the foreign exchange challenges that Sri Lanka is facing by correctly identifying and managing rural resources. He further pointed out that the monthly salary of the graduate is limited to thirty-forty thousand rupees, and a woman or a man engaged in an industry doing the work of their children at home has the opportunity to earn two or three times more than that. He explained that he is ready to empower the national economy by showing the pride of Sri Lanka to the world by properly fulfilling the responsibility assigned by Minister Ramesh Pathirana to empower the local economy. He also said that the lack of productivity in government institutions has led to accusing the two hundred and twenty-five ministers in the parliament Simultaneously, the “Lak Shilpa” showroom was also opened. State Minister of Indigenous Medicine, Lawyer Sisira Jayakodi, and Mr. Sampath Arehapola, chairman of the National Craft Council also addressed the gathering. Prof. Kollupitiyae Mahinda Sangharakkhita Thero, Chancellor, University of Kelaniya, Mrs. Thilaka Jayasundara, secretary of the Ministry of Industries, Miss Shanti Kumuduni, Chairman, Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha, and other heads of line institutions and regional representatives were also present on this occasion.