US question close of fruit processing plant

2 April 2012 08:25 am

The US Embassy in Colombo had expressed concern over the closure of the fruit processing factory situated within the premises of Sevanagala Sugar Industries Ltd which was taken over by the government under the ‘Revival of the Underperforming and Underutilized Assets Bill’.

Former Chairman Sevanagala Sugar Industries Ltd Daya Gamage told Daily Mirror that the US Embassy that had been concerned about it and had recently inquired from him as to what is happening about the factory.  The Embassy had inquired as to when it could be reopened.

He said the inquiry was made as the fruit processing factory is a project funded by US Aid.

However Mr. Gamage said the factory was not taken over by the government but they have been forced to close it as no one including the employees were allowed to enter it as it is located within the premises of Sevanagala factory.

In another development the government is currently surveying the lands adjoining the Sevanagala sugar factory which belong to Mr. Gamage. The government has assured that these lands would be given back to Mr. Gamage. However some interested persons backed by the government politicians in the area are holding on to a building which belongs to one of the garment factories.

However Minister Jagath Pushpakumara had repeatedly denied involvement in any of the forceful activities that had been going on in the area. (Yohan Perera)