The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, thank you for the opportunity to speak in the debate on the Ministries of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and Youth Affairs and Sports. The backbone of this country’s economy, agriculture, has declined. While global agriculture advances with technology, in Sri Lanka it has steadily deteriorated. In earlier times, the industrial sector imported crude oil, refined it, exported, and earned revenue; similarly, we imported textiles, stitched garments, and exported. But these sectors are now declining. There is a belief internationally and locally that Sri Lanka’s industrial sector has not achieved significant growth.

¶ 02 In the North and East, many factories have been deliberately shut down. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa promised a solution “Thirteen Plus” beyond the 13th Amendment after the war; he delivered none. During his tenure, there was no effort to revive industries in the North and East or create economic progress. The Kankesanthurai cement factory in Jaffna District lies looted, with only cement foundations remaining; nothing has been done to restart it. Likewise, the Parantan chemical plant, once renowned in Asia, remains closed. The Government now mentions establishing an industrial estate there, which is welcome. In 2015, at the Kilinochchi District Coordinating Committee, I proposed an industrial estate in Parantan similar to Achchuveli, drawing workers from Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, and Jaffna via rail and buses; at least 20 companies and 1,000 jobs for the unemployed. Yet no progress.

¶ 03 Since Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, is here, I urge you first to adopt a plan to revive defunct factories in the North and East. Through the Government Agents, obtain details on what is needed, land extents, funding, and raw material sources — for instance, to restart the cement factory and Parantan chemical plant.

¶ 04 Sri Lanka’s highest quality salt is produced at Aanaivilunthaan and Kurinjatheevu in my district. The Aanaivilunthaan salt is taken to Mannar, washed, and sold as “Mantai Salt”, though produced in Kilinochchi. Kurinjatheevu is Asia’s only place famed for pure white salt. With about 72 households and over 3,000 acres, it can produce Asia’s finest salt, but it remains inoperative, long blamed on mines. I personally initiated efforts to restart it and engaged with the Indian High Commission, which was supportive. The Indian High Commission and the Jaffna Consulate are still positively inclined. Please engage and use Indian technology to restart Kurinjatheevu salt works, immediately creating at least 2,000 jobs for Tamil youth.

¶ 05 Regarding the Ottuchuddan brick factory, the Hon. Minister said efforts are underway to restart it. Under the LTTE, that factory functioned well; bricks inscribed “Tamil Eelam” were widely known for quality, drawing on their technical know-how. It has now ceased to operate.

¶ 06 Next, the Valachchenai Paper Mill in Batticaloa: Former MPs S. Yogeswaran and D. Sreenesan strove to revive it. Between 2015–2019, an entrepreneur group from the Netherlands offered Rs. 3,000 million to restart it, but the then Government and some others blocked it. I entrust this responsibility to you. There is no alternative plan to revive such industries — brick, salt, Parantan chemical, or KKS cement. Without these, how do we provide jobs to youth? In Kilinochchi, two garment factories — Vidiyal and Vaanavil — employ some, but orders are falling; production and work hours are reduced. The country must be identified and developed as a production nation; for that, industry must advance.

¶ 07 In Jaffna, many restaurants and biryani outlets are opening targeting tourism, but job-creation platforms for youth in Jaffna, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Mannar, and Mullaitivu are not opening. Will building a bridge between Talaimannar and Rameswaram happen? If so, what benefits for Sri Lanka? What is the plan? The Ram Setu talk remains idle. The Adani wind power project is stalled or withdrawn. With such delays, industries and job platforms get pushed back.

¶ 08 I am not here to blame this Government or Ministers. As an educator, I say: like a Principal’s five-year plan defines a school’s growth, a Government’s five-year tenure shows the nation’s trajectory. What progress will your five years deliver? We are willing to cooperate with your best efforts. Please pay special attention to these matters.