Power and Energy Minister to address SMED-FCCISL Key Person Forum in Jaffna

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, 5 November 2012 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Jaffna forum will be addressed by Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka on ‘Enhancing the Quality of Energy Services for Industrial, Way Forward in Northern Province’. This forum is organised by the SMED of FCCISL in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and 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.

Individuals who are interested in participating, please contact Malka (Colombo) or Yoga (Jaffna) on respective contact numbers, 077 953 6239, 0777 110 425.