The Hon. Gayan Janaka (on behalf of the Hon. K. Ilankumaran)

¶ 01 asked the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure: (a) Will he state - (i) whether he is aware that the excessive production of palmyrah toddy from February to August goes to waste due to the inactivity of the Jaffna Thikkam Distillery; (ii) if so, the steps that have been taken to modernize and reactivate the said distillery; (iii) whether the Cabinet of Ministers has approved Rs. 112.5 million for this project on 28.06.2016; (iv) the current progress of the said project; (v) the expected date of completion of the said project; (vi) the benefits to palmyrah toddy producers and palmyrah development co-operative societies in the Northern Province from modernizing the distillery; and (vii) the manner in which this leads to growth in job, income and export sectors? (b) Will he inform this House - (i) whether steps have been taken to convert surplus palmyrah toddy into palmyrah toddy juice, surgical spirits and other value-added products; and (ii) the projects that will be implemented to encourage small-scale palmyrah toddy suppliers and palmyrah-based producers in the Northern and Eastern Provinces? (c) If not, why?