Ribbon-cutting to unveil the COMPLAST Sri Lanka 2018 and COMEXPO exhibitions. From left: Deputy Commercial Head of High Commission of India in Colombo Neha Singh, PRISL Vice President Kaushal Rajapakse, Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, IDB Chairman Mahinda Jinasena and Smart Expos and Fairs India (Pvt.) Ltd CEO and President B. Swaminathan

By Harshana Sellahewa

Marching ahead with plans to industrialise the Northern Province, Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen said the next phase of the development of Achchuveli Industrial Zone is planned at a cost of Rs.100 million.

The minister made this statement at the inauguration ceremony of the fifth edition of COMPLAST Sri Lanka 2018, the complete plastics exhibition held in parallel with COMEXPO 2018, the complete manufacturing expo, at BMICH, yesterday.

“My officials are working on the next stage of this project at present. This large scale industrial zone is a pioneering project for the development of the Northern Province,” Bathiudeen said. “I invite all industrial participants here today to start manufacturing at Achchuveli Industrial Zone and reap maximum benefits.”

The Achchuveli Industrial Zone is the largest mixed industrial zone in the Northern Province spanning over 65 acres. The Rs.100 million investment by the government is for the phase-II of the zone which targets 15 acres.

Meanwhile, Minister Bathiudeen went on to say that India has greatly contributed to the development of the Northern Province.

Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya examining a product at a stall
Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

“We thank the government and people of India for the grant assistance of Rs.200 million to commence this zone in 2014. India has also greatly contributed for the development of many other aspects in the Northern Province. I wish to express my appreciation to people of India on behalf of people of north.”

At present, five industries operate under Phase-I, directly employing 125 people. After the expansion, direct employment is projected to surge to 500. Industrialists investing in this zone are entitled to a 50 percent subsidised rate on their total electricity bills.

 
Organised by Smart Expos and Fairs India (Pvt.) Ltd and Plastics and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka (PRISL), the COMPLAST Sri Lanka 2018 and COMEXPO exhibitions were inaugurated by chief guest Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, PRISL Vice President Kaushal Rajapakse, Industrial Development Board Chairman Mahinda Jinasena, Deputy Commercial Head of High Commission of India in Colombo Neha Singh and Smart Expos and Fairs India (Pvt.) Ltd CEO and President B. Swaminathan. The event was also graced by Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Karu Jayasuriya.