Sri Lanka Army to produce its own steel needs
View(s):The Sri Lanka Army recently began its own manufacture of barrack equipment, machinery tools and all steel accessories at the main workshop of the Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME) at the former Plywoods Corporation complex at Kosgama,just beyond Homagama.
The project, initiated by Army Commander Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, would sharply cut costs to the army incurred annually on the purchase of those steel stocks from private sector producers, an Army media release said.
The Army Commander watches a soldier at work.
The inauguration of this first-ever large scale production centre took place recently at a ceremony attended by the Army Commander at the invitation of the Director General Army Industrial Projects and Director General Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Major General T.N Jayasuriya.
The release said a few weeks ago, the Army chief opened similar centres for the manufacture of furniture for the army at Panadura and at Dombagoda.
In the Kosgama project, identified barrack items, metal beds and light items are to be manufactured with available resources in the first phase. The next stage of production will focus on aluminum related works in the Army before the project moves to producing gas stoves, towel racks, chairs, cupboards, wheelbarrows, souvenirs, etc.