Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday Nov 15, 2024
Thursday, 1 November 2012 00:47 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Small and Medium Enterprise Developers (SMED), the SME development arm of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) will present the second episode of the series of ‘The Key Persons Forum’ (KPF) at the Gnanam Hotel, Jaffna on Monday, 5th November 2012 from 10.30 am to 1.00 pm.
The Jaffna forum will be addressed by Patali Champika Ranawaka, M.P., Minister of Power and Energy on “Enhancing the Quality of Energy Services for Industrial, Way Forward in Northern Provnce”. This forum is organized by the SMED of FCCISL in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce & Industries of Yarlpanam. The Asia Foundation under its Local Economic Governance Program, which is funded by the Australian International Agency for Development (AusAID), supports the FCCISL to conduct KPF in regions.
The scheduled forum in Jaffna is a continuation of the extremely successful forum held in Badulla with Mahinda Yapa Abewardana as the Key Person.
The forum is to be conducted on energy considering the priorities of quality energy supply which is viewed as a crucial issue for accelerating development and investments in the North particularly. This forum will beneficial for investors, entrepreneurs, traders, corporate heads, consultants, researchers, professionals, academics and general public. The forum will provide the opportunity for the audience to interact with the minister after a brief presentation by the minister.
Energy crisis would constrain agriculture development in future in the region. Cost of production is increased as energy is limited. Lack of energy supply might cause cultivation of other field crops (OFC), vegetables and fruit crops getting neglected too. According to the Annual report of CEB, Colombo City records the highest annual electricity consumption per consumer at 7,582 units while the lowest annual electricity consumption per-consumer is 1,145 units in Northern Province. Electricity consumption is a good indicator for industrial growth. As per the Annual Report, the number of electricity accounts in the Northern Province is the lowest among all the provinces. Likewise the sale of electricity in the Northern Province is the lowest of all the provinces. Since the end of the war people faced many difficulties, particularly the power supply, however, situation was very much improved after Jaffna peninsula is connected to national grid. This was the major intervention of the government to up lift the living standards of the people in Jaffna.
It is stated that a major part of the distribution network, in the Northern Province was damaged due to the war prevailed for many years. As a part of nation building exercise, the Government has launched ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya’ program to reconstruct the infrastructure facilities of the Northern Province. It is stated in CEB Annual Report, construction of necessary power transmission lines and grid substations to Northern Province was included as a part of this programme.
Individuals, who are interested in participating, please contact Ms. Malka (Colombo) or Mr. Yoga (Jaffna) on respective contact numbers, 077 953 6239, 0777 110 425.
