June 07, Colombo: Minister of Plantation Industries and Minister of Industries Ramesh Pathirana instructed the officials yesterday (06) in Parliament to speed up the activities of providing credit facilities through the intervention of the Ministry of Industry in order to avoid the difficulties faced by the small and medium scale industrialists.

Minister stated this when the Ministerial Consultative committee on Industries met yesterday (06) in Parliament under his chairmanship.

Accordingly, the minister gave the necessary instructions to the officials including Secretary to the Ministry Ms. Thilaka Jayasundara, to discuss with the banks and provide credit facilities to the industrialists who have already been given project reports.

The minister also said that through the restriction of imports, a great progress can be seen in the industrial sector of this country. Accordingly, the highest export income of 13.1 billion dollars was recorded last year (2022), he added.

The minister also stated that 22 car and three-wheeler assembly industrialists are currently working in the country and industrial development activities are being carried out in 20 identified areas.

Many issues related to various industries such as gem and jewelry, clay, cashews, cane, bamboo etc. were brought to the attention of the committee by the members. The Minister instructed the Ministry Secretary and other officials to take immediate action in this regard.

State Minister of Primary Industries Chamara Sampath Dasanayake and many members of Parliament were also present in the committee meeting. Ms. Thilaka Jayasundara, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, and the officials of the institutions under the Ministry were also present.