• Infrastructure development costing Rs. 580 m to be handled by Central Engineering Services
• Developer selected bypassing procurement process to expedite program 

The Government this week gave Industry and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiudeen the green light to bypass the standard procurement procedure to commission Central Engineering Services Ltd. to develop infrastructure in stage III of the Trincomalee Industrial Zone at an estimated cost of Rs. 580 million.

Bathiudeen this week got Cabinet approval to skip the calling for bids to select the developer to award the contract, as the process would cause “an inordinate delay in establishing the industrial estate and also in order to accelerate the work on this project utilising the 2018-2020 budgetary allocation.”

The company, Central Engineering Services, is a fully owned subsidiary of the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau which did the feasibility study for the third stage in collaboration with the Ministry.

According to the project proposal submitted to the Department of National Planning following a feasibility study, the industrial park is expected to generate 1800-2500 direct employment opportunities and another 150-500 indirect opportunities through the establishment of up to 15 large and medium scale industries.

With a total extent of 50 acres situated in the Kappalthurei village, the project, which is to be financed through the Government Consolidated Fund carried out in three phases, is expected to be completed by 2020 attracting an estimated total investment of Rs. 5 billion.

Under the first stage, infrastructure in 25 acres will be developed at a cost of Rs. 289 million while phase 2 will complete the project at an additional Rs. 291 million. The infrastructure development also includes an elephant fence costing a total of Rs. 68 million.

 

Developments in North and East to be fast tracked

• Sirisena raises concerns over stalled road development projects in Eastern Province, calls for an inquiry
• Pledges to provide jobs for all unemployed graduates within six months
• Says Govt. focuses on introducing new education policies

President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday (3 March) said two special presidential taskforces will be set up to fast-track development in the Northern and Eastern provinces previously delayed due to the three-decade civil war.

“I will take steps to establish two special presidential taskforces to make development more efficient, which were delayed due to the long-term war in the Northern and Eastern provinces,” the President said at a ceremony where he handed over teaching appointments to 200 graduates and 40 diploma-holders in the Batticaloa District. He also called for the cooperation of all the ministers representing all political parties for the initiative. President Sirisena also raised concerns on all the road development projects that have currently come to a standstill in the Eastern Province, noting that he would call for an inquiry.

He also said a program would be introduced to provide job opportunities to all unemployed graduates within the next six months.

“All the interviews that were postponed due to the election will commence and steps will be taken to provide employment for the unemployed graduates within the next six months,” he added.

Around 200 graduates and 40 diploma-holders were offered teaching appointments at the occasion.

The President noted that the Government has focused its attention on making some changes in the educational system through new education policies and plans. He said the graduates, who were a resource for the country, were also inclined to protest due to the shortcomings in the educational system.

He said that immediate steps would be taken to appoint graduate teachers in the Eastern Province as well as for the vacant positions at other governmental and provincial institutions.

President Sirisena also handed over laboratory equipment kits to three schools in the Eastern Province under the program to provide laboratory equipment to schools in the Eastern Province.

Eastern Province Governor Rohitha Bogollagama, state ministers A.L.M. Hizbullah and Sriyani Wijewickrema, Deputy Minister Amir Ali, Parliamentarian Ali ShahirMoulana, IGP Pujith Jayasundara, Eastern Provincial Council Chairman ChandradasaGalappaththi, General Secretary Sarath Abeygunawardena and the security forces heads were present at the occasion.

The President also paid a visit to Ven. AmpitiyeSumanarathana Thero at the Sri Managarama Buddhist temple in Batticaloa and later visited the Sri MamangamEaswara Hindu temple.