Government go-ahead for controversial Uva- Wellassa sugar project
View(s):The government is going ahead with the Uva- Wellassa sugar plantation project which was abruptly halted by the previous Rajapaksa regime in 2007 following vigorous protests of residents and environmentalists.
The Cabinet has approved the resurrection of the project to cultivate sugarcane in around 62,500 acres of fertile land in Maduruoya reserve area instead of lands from Nilgala, Galoya and Maduruoya reserves which were proposed in the 2007 project.
Plans are underway to build a sugar factory at a 149 hectare land in Dehigama and Akiriyan Kumbura divisions in close proximity to the Nilgala reserve in Moneragala.
The foundation stone laying ceremony to build the factory is scheduled to be held next month under the patronage of the President.
The go-ahead has been given despite the Uva Provincial Council passing a resolution on April 27 against the implementation of the project, official sources revealed.
Highlighting the issues relating to the sugar cane cultivation project, Financial Times on Sunday Times on July 29, 2007 reported that the then government had planned to hand over of 62,500 acres in the area to a British company, apparently Booker Tate.
But the local promoters of the project had denied claims that land was being given to a British company it didn’t want to name, but said the company was providing technical know-how and other support.
The same name of Booker Tate British consultancy firm has transpired once again after more than nine years in the latest move to resurrect the project by the present government.
The local agent of this project is I.M.S. Holdings, the same company that was involved in the project previous time. A Thailand company affiliated to Booker Tate has stepped in this time as foreign collaborator to invest over US$110 million to establish the sugar factory in Moneragala, informed sources revealed. Â -Â (Bandula)