Red tape is not only affecting the smooth progress of the business community but also government sector institutions as well, said the State Minister of Primary Industries Chamara Sampath Dasanayake.
He said that Kahatagaha mines are in dire financial difficulties and they are even finding it hard to pay next month salaries despite having readymade disposable assets that could fetch up to over several million dollars.
“We have over 1,000 tons of graphite but are unable to sell it due to red tape. “Though the Kahatagaha mines come under my Ministry I have got permission from the Minister Environment to sell this precious merchandise. “In addition the price towards the sale of this merchandise has to be decided by a Pricing committee and all these take considerable time.”
Similarly there is a over 20 year ban on the export of Phosphate and I have brought this matter to the attention of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and now things have started moving. We can obtain around USD 150 million export revenue from this and with proper value addition Sri Lanka can get around USD 400 million from export of Phosphate.”
He also lamented that when the government wants to provide land for mining they have to go to 10 different bodies like Mahaweli Authority, Land Reform Commission, several government ministries and provincial bodies before approval is granted and the land given to investors. He also said that environmentalists are also putting a lot of pressure against mining and asked what would be the outcome if they put similar pressure on oil producing countries which too are extracting natural resources and also polluting the environment when processing oil.
The Minister made these observations at the launch of the first Chinafort Gem and Jewellery Traders Association (CGJTA) organised ‘Gem Sri Lanka’, exhibition to be held from January 11 to 13, at the Cinnamon Bentota Beach Resort on Tuesday.
Gem Sri Lanka (GSL) Chairman Hilmy Cassim stated that, “the Gem Sri Lanka, will expose our young talent and also coloured stones to the international market.”
There is no doubt that this gem show will serve as the centre stage for Sri Lanka to garner the much needed high-value attention from the world over in this sector. Gem Sri Lanka serves to show the world a true, rare and unique nature of Sri Lanka’s gemstones.”
Gem Sri Lanka will serve to boost the country’s economy while raising awareness on the availability of the country’s rarest and most valued natural gemstones. Chairman National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) said that they hope to attract over USD 400 million export revenue from the gem and jewellery sector this year.
Shirajiv Sirimane