The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, the answers are as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) - Year 2022: 18 - Year 2023: 283 - Year 2024: 9 Total: 310 recruited during these three years.

¶ 03 (ii) On 11.11.2011, when the institution was taken over by the Government, there were 545 employees; currently there are 1,319. A proposed approved cadre based on service needs has been sent to the Department of Management Services for approval. Until the cadre is approved, we cannot definitively state shortages or excess. Prima facie, there appears to be an excess.

¶ 04 (iii) As the cadre has not yet been approved by the Department of Management Services, we cannot specify the excess monthly cost. However, in December 2024, Rs. 122 million was paid for monthly salaries and Rs. 10 million for overtime—total approximately Rs. 132 million for 1,319 employees, averaging about Rs. 92,500 per employee per month. This is a substantial burden. Roughly 80% of expenditure goes to purchasing cane from farmers and to salaries.

¶ 05 (iv) Yes.

¶ 06 (b) 1. Investments have been made to increase factory capacity from 1,200 to 1,500 metric tons. 2. To improve ethanol quality, proposals have been made to install three new carbon columns. 3. For wastewater management, a project is being initiated with the National Water Supply and Drainage Board. 4. Under business diversification, tourist bungalows owned by the institution in Udawalawa area are being offered for tourist accommodation to earn income. 5. In addition to brown sugar, we have commenced producing jaggery and treacle from sugarcane; these are being released to the market. 6. Our brown sugar production has increased, and consumer prices have been reduced—from Rs. 340–360 per kg when we took over, to Rs. 280 today—narrowing the gap between brown and white sugar by Rs. 40, boosting consumption.