Police cut MR out of hoardings at Sevanagala

• Amidst workers’ fear of retrenchment if Government changes

Text and pix by P.D. DE SILVA  In keeping with the election laws the Sevanagala Police have cut out the picture of President Mahinda Rajapaksa from all hoardings put up by the Ministry of Sugar Development to thank the President and the Government for benefits granted to the sugar industry in the 2015 budget. The Sevanagala Sugar Industry which became operative in 1974 was a losing venture when it was bought by Sevanagala Sugar Industries a subsidiary of the Daya Group in 2002 but the Government took over the business again in 2012 and at present it is being managed by Lanka Sugar Company which comes under the purview of the Ministry of Sugar Development. The Sevanagala Sugar factory has seen a complete turn-around no reaping the benefits of the development initiated by the Daya group who installed new machinery and storage facilities and also took steps to cut down waste and make the facility more eco friendly. It is said that there was a decrease in sugar production at that time but the excess molasses which was discarded into the Walawa River from time to time was stopped resulting in the increase of molasses produced.  Recently the Lanka Sugar Company Ltd was able to share a bonus payment Rs. 278 million among farmers and workers. The new management has provided employment to many in the recent past who are concerned that they may be retrenched if the industry is returned to the private sector again.