SL focuses on electrical component manufacturing
View(s):Sri Lanka is to embark on Electronic and Electrical Components (EEC) manufacturing in a big way to cater to the needs of the country under the present set up of import restrictions, Minister of Power Dulles Alahapperuma announced at a top level official meeting recently.
He expressed the belief that local manufacturers have the potential to do this and they could produce some of these components saving much needed foreign exchange for the country.
A 6-member expert committee has been appointed by the Minister to find ways and means to promote this sector and make recommendations to launch the production of insulators locally for the power transmission sector.
The local manufacturers will have to produce insulators for the requirements of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Lanka Electric Company (LECO) initially, a senior official of the ministry told the Business Times.
The committee comprises representatives with expert knowledge from the Ministries of Power, Industries, CEB, LECO and Lanka Ceramic Corporation.
Minister Alahapperuma has directed the committee to submit their report within a month, the official said.
The government has endorsed the budgetary support of the Treasury to this sector towards strategic growth in terms of technology, investments and employment generation.
It is well positioned to benefit from the industry’s steadily increasing levels of manufacturing in Asia, and can contribute to the diversification and technological upgrading of Sri Lanka’s exports, he added.
The ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Industries will also be introducing a national-level framework for sector development, with focused product lines, and by encouraging investments into these product lines.
It will initiate a few electrical component manufacturing projects of national importance that will lead to improved and enhanced production in the sector, he disclosed. (BS)