Small Industry chamber proposals to Amunugama

A delegation from the Chamber of Small Industry led by its president, Aloy Jayawardene recently met Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion and presented to him proposals for the development of exports in the small and medium sector.

Jayawardene, explaining the role and history of the chamber, said a draft bill prepared by the Ministry of Industrial Development and approved by the Cabinet is presently with the Legal Draftsman in which the chamber will be known as the Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industry.

Jayawardene was accompanied by Nandadasa Rajapakse, Chairman D. Samson Industries (Pvt) Ltd, Lalith Kahatapitiya, Chairman, KIK Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and Dharamasiri Alahakoon, Managing Director Country Style Foods (Pvt) Ltd. Jayawardene, referring to the discriminatory sales taxes, imposed on Sri Lankan exports to India by state governments there, said exports were at a disadvantage due to high taxes.

On the other hand, he said the government here should allow foreign manufacturers to enter Sri Lanka and kill local industries. “Our industries which had a local market have realized it’s more profitable to import and sell than getting involved in manufacturing,” Jayawardene said suggesting that a non-tariff barrier system on finished goods imports be introduced to protect local manufacturers.