State bureaucracy delayed Lanwa Sanstha Cement factory opening: Chamal Rajapaksa

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa unveiling a plaque during the factory opening. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Ministers Chamal Rajapaksa, Bandula Gunawardena, Pavithra Wanniarachchi and the Lanwa Group Chairman Nandana Lokuwithana are also present.
Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

• President and Prime Minister declare open US$ 100mn cement factory 

By Yohan Perera
The US$ 100 million Lanwa Sanstha Cement factory in Hambantota, which was declared open by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday, would have been commissioned much earlier if not for bureaucracy of State officials, a senior minister stressed yesterday. 

Minister of Irrigation and State Minister of National Security & Disaster Management and State Minister of Home Affairs Chamal Rajapaksa who was speaking during the opening of Lanwa Sanstha Cement factory said the investor Nandana Lokuwithana asked for the land to construct the cement factory several years ago, but certain government officials did not release the land. 

“This factory would have come up much earlier if the officials did not behave in the way they did. Officials should think of Sri Lanka’s future,” the Minister said. 

State Minister D. B. Channaka, who also attended the factory opening said Sri Lanka will be able to become self-sufficient in cement when the second phase of the factory comes up. 
“Sri Lanka’s annual need of cement is 7 million metric tonnes, but only 4 million metric tonnes are produced locally. The Lanwa Sanstha Cement factory is set to produce 2.8 million metric tonnes per year and it will be able to play a role in making Sri Lanka self-sufficient in cement,” he said. 

He also said encouraging similar projects is part of the government’s long term solution to the foreign exchange crisis.

“We also plan to add 11 more export processing zones in addition to existing 14 zones in Sri Lanka,” he added. 
The manufacturing plant incorporates many cutting-edge features such as the fully automated stacker reclaimer yard and 2 bridge type ship unloaders for efficient, waste-free and sustainable handling of cargo. 

The investors are hopeful that this facility will be a major boost to the economy in terms of saving foreign exchange while empowering the local construction section by eliminating the shortage of cement triggered by the import ban put in place on cement to mitigate rupee depreciation. 

Lanwa Sanstha Cement factory will produce the full range of cement products including ordinary Portland cement (OPC), Portland composite cement (PPC) and blended hydraulic cement (BHC) catering to the rising local demand from landmark projects including the Port City and the network of expressways.
The opening ceremony was followed by a tour of the facility for the VIPs in attendance.