CCC assists IDPs

Bright outlook for economic sustainability

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

The bad period for Sri Lanka is over and we have to be optimistic about economic sustainability. Then we can cut through barriers, CEO, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Haren Malwatta told Daily News Business.

He was speaking on the initiatives taken in the North and East by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce to assist IDPs. He said many things are happening at present to assist the IDPs despite various bottlenecks and when large companies go others will follow.

He said that senior Chamber officials visited the Vanni early this year and as a result a program to assist the Government in tackling the IDP situation was initiated. The CCC with the National Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, National Chamber of Exporters and Ceylon National Chamber of Industries called for assistance from their member companies as a joint venture.

Accordingly, three consignments were sent to the GA Vavuniya and Omanthai.

The CCC is gathering information from member companies of the large scale investments made as assistance to the IDPs. Malwatta said that Brandix donated clothing worth Rs. 20 million and relief items worth Rs. 2.5 million. Employees of Hayleys contributed a day’s pay to cover expenses.

Meanwhile, Nestle’ Lanka has set up a new milk collection centre with chilling facilities in Seruwila in the Trincomalee district.

Two rural collection centres will also be set up in Illuppadichanai and Vavunativu to support supplies to the main collection centre in Seruwila. This follows a meeting with the Governor and other senior officials of the Eastern Province by a business delegation.

The delegation comprised representatives of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Nestle’ Lanka, CIC PLC, Fontera Brands Lanka and Ceylon Cold Stores recently, CEO, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Malwatta said.

He said that CIC PLC invested Rs. 300 million in two dairy farms in the Eastern Province and the North Central Province, one kilometre away from the Eastern Province border. Ceylon Cold Stores will set up projects in the Eastern Province and Hayleys will invest in agriculture, logistics and infrastructure, he said.

The Daya Group had invested in an aqua project, Cargills has opened a supermarket in Trincomalee and Keells will also open supermarkets in Jaffna and Trincomalee, he said.