Sugar production will start at the Hingurana Sugar factory by the middle of this year using the sugarcane harvest expected from present cultivations, the government said in Parliament today.

Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardane told the House that farmers were happy about the new deals signed in this respect.

“I recently visited the factory. We have to wait for the harvest. By June, we will be able to start sugar production,” he said.   

He was responding to a question by JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti in this regard. Asked about the situation at the Pelawatte factory which was taken over by the government last year, Mr. Gunawardane said that the previous owners of the factory had defaulted the payment of Rs.24 million to the employees . The Chief Whip said that action would be taken to pay the money to the employees concerned as soon as possible. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)