Bingiriya industrial zone to be developed as a public-private partnership: PM

By Yohan Perera in Bingiriya 

The industrial zone to be built in Bingiriya would be developed as a public-private partnership (PPP), revealed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

He said the Treasury would be one partner of the PPP while a suitable partner would be sought from the private sector, either local or overseas. 

With Thailand’s Rojana, as a PPP project, Sri Lanka is currently developing the country’s first industrial zone after a decade, in Kalutara.

Meanwhile, Wickremesinghe requested the relevant institutions, such as the Board of Investment (BOI), to start the work on the infrastructure facilities of the industrial zone being set up in Bingiriya.  He made this request during an inspection tour of the location the zone is to be set up, in German Estate, in Bingiriya, yesterday.  
“The work on the infrastructure facilities of the zone should begin now as the project is legally through. The work of the infrastructure facilities of the zones in Katunayake and Biyagama began before the commencement of the construction work on the zones began in 1978,” he said.

The prime minister said the industrial zones would also be set up from Hambantota to Kandy. 

BOI Executive Director Upali Senarath said the Bingiriya industrial zone would be developed in three phases. 

The first phase is to cost Rs.1.3 billion. Factories would be set up in 300 acres during the first phase, according to him. He said some electrical appliances manufacturers have expressed interest to start factories in the zone. 

A few local businessmen, who met Wickremesinghe at the location, expressed interest in setting up a pharmaceutical product manufacturing plant in the zone. 
Another wanted to set up a factory that produces medicines with refined coconut oil. 

Senarath assured that they would be given the opportunity to set up factories as soon as possible.