Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2016-10-04

Establishment of an Industrial Park for Leather Industry in the Batticaloa District

- The leather industry, a sector where plenty of scope exists for accessing the export market, has been identified as an industry that should be developed by according high priority. Through the said industry, a substantial amount of foreign exchange could be earned and more than 10,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities would be created. Therefore, the proposal made by Hon. Rishad Bathiudeen, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, to establish an eco-friendly Industrial Estate in the Wahanery area of the Batticaloa District, coinciding with the Government's poverty alleviation programme implemented in the said district, in order to provide raw materials required for the footwear and leather goods industry, to facilitate cottage industries in that sector and to develop human resources, and to provide common amenities and marketing facilities, was approved by the Cabinet.