2nd Lead (Adds photos)

Minister discusses BoI activities in NorthEast

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 June 2004, 16:49 GMT]
Mr.Arjuna Ranatunge, Deputy Minister for Tourism and Foreign Investment Promotion Monday paid a visit to Trincomalee, and held discussion with the officials of the Trincomalee District Chamber of Commerce and local investors. He later briefed the media based in the east port city about the future activities of the Board of Investment (BoI).

Deputy Minister Mr.Arjuna Ranatunge

The meeting was held at the office of the North-East regional office of the BoI which is located in the building of the Trincomalee Multi Purpose Co-operative Society along the Inner harbour Road, Trincomalee.

Accompanied by BoI officials and local investors, Mr.Ranatunge later visited the sites where BoI approved development projects are implemented in the district.

BoI comes under the Ministry of Tourism and Foreign Investment Promotion.

Mr. Terrence Sundaram, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the BoI northeast regional office, received Mr.Arjuna Ranatunge, sources said.

Mr.K.Thurairajah, President of the Trincomalee District Chamber of Commerce (TDCC), Chief Executive Officer of the TDCC Mr.Geetha Fontgallon, Mr.T.Uthayakumaran, Managing Director of Thurairajah and Sons and Mr. Terrence Sundaram participated in the discussion

Mr. Sundaram handed over a report on the BoI approved projects in the northeast province.




Deputy Minister Arjuna Ranatunge goes through the report on BoI activities in the northeast province while Mr.Terrence Sundaram, his senior manager in Trincomalee Mr.S.Sathiyaseelan and Mr.T.Uthayakumaran, Managing Director of a local firm look on



According to the report, already sixteen BoI approved projects are in operation in the northeast province, six in Trincomalee district, 4 in Amparai, and 3 in Batticaloa, 2 in Vavuniya and one in Jaffna, BoI sources said.

BoI has approved thirteen new projects in the northeast province, 2 in Amparai, 2 in Batticaloa, 1 in Killinochchi and 8 in Trincomalee, sources said.

In reply to questions by journalists Mr.Arjuna Ranatunge said his stand was that the development of the country should go ahead while country leaders tackle the national question to find a solution separately.

His intention was to make tourism the number one foreign exchange earner of the country, said Mr.Arjuna Ranatunge.

Currently the country has been suffering from various problems because the leaders in past failed to take right decision at right time, Mr.Arjuna Ranatunge said.