Naveen says state institutions blocking development

The country is not moving with the pace of rapid development in the world owing to ill effects of bureaucratic bungling and lack of vision. Dissanayake stressed the need to develop Sri Lanka as a Second World country within the next decade by working hard towards achieving this objective.

Minister of Investment Promotion Naveen Dissanayake on Friday lashed out at the public sector institutions including the Urban Development Authority and the Environmental Authority for their lethargic attitude which is virtually blocking industrial and construction projects to get off the ground in the island.

He disclosed that the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka has to seek various approvals from at least 15 public sector institutions to make an industrial venture a reality.

The minister made these observations when he addressed a ceremony held in connection with the inauguration of Excon 2007 annual trade fair and exhibition organized by the Chamber of Construction Industry of Sri Lanka.

There are around 150 stallholders at Excon 2007 including prominent suppliers of construction inputs and participants from the SME sector. The trade fair is being held at the BMICH.

He said the BOI was very dynamic and it had been operated as a viable institution and all services for investors were provided under one roof during Upali Wijeyawardene‘s tenure of office.

Dissanayake said that there was a construction boom in the country during 1977- 1980, where his father the late Minister Gamini Dissanayake had been entrusted with the task of completing the accelerated Mahaweli Development programme within six years.
The country is not moving with the pace of rapid development in the world owing to ill effects of bureaucratic bungling and lack of vision. Dissanayake stressed the need to develop Sri Lanka as a Second World country within the next decade by working hard towards achieving this objective.

Minister of Export Development and International Trade Professor G.L Pieris who was one of the guests of honour said that Sri Lanka should export professional services, brain power and strengths as there is a tremendous market for construction and engineering services in Qatar, Bahrain and Dubai.

Minister of Construction and Engineering Rajitha Senaratne who was the chief guest noted that his ministry plans to bring in a construction law to the country which will encompass all disciplines and stake holders of the sector.