Japan provides firefighting vehicles and equipment to BOI

Saturday, 1 November 2014 01:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Ambassador of Japan Nobuhito Hobo handed over five fire fighting vehicles and equipment to Minister of Investment Promotion Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana for use by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI), at the official handing over ceremony held at Katunayake Export Processing Zone on 29 October.

The Government of Japan provided $ 83,735 (approximately Rs. 10 million) in grant towards in for the ‘Project for Improving Fire Units in the Export Processing Zones of Sri Lanka’ under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). ‘The Project for Improving Fire Units in Export Processing Zones of Sri Lanka’ enabled the BOI to procure five used good quality fire engines and fire protection gear from Japan that would contribute to enhance the fire prevention and safety measures in several Export Processing Zones in Sri Lanka. The five fire engines were donated by local authorities in Japan (three from Tokyo Metropolis, one from Yokosuka city and one from Kasukabe city) and fire protection gears from Inashiki City through dedicated support from the Society for Promotion of Japanese Diplomacy (SPJD). The fire engines and protection gears which were handed over to BOI today will be deployed in Free Trade Zones in Katunayake, Biyagama and Seethawaka for enhancing the fire and safety measures in the industrial areas, including factories, machinery, chemical storages and storage yards and mainly to ensure the safety of the staff.

Responding to the provision of this grants, BOI Chairman Dr. Lakshman Jayaweera expressed the sincere appreciation and gratitude of BOI to the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka for generously contributing towards the execution of the project for improving fire units in Export Processing Zones under the BOI by way of a grant for the purpose of procuring five units reconditioned fire fighting vehicles and fire fighter protectors from Japan. This contribution is viewed as momentous in the upgrading of fire units which is expected to create a tremendous impact on the security and safety of human lives and property in and around the Export Processing Zones. This cordial gesture would no doubt further strengthen the warm and friendly relations between the two countries.