Sri Lanka’s first National Industry Information System launched…
Sri Lanka’s first National Industry Information System launched… The National Industry Information System (NIIS), a new digital platform designed to manage all information related to economic and industrial activities across Sri Lanka, was launched in Colombo on (06) under the patronage of the Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Sunil Handunnetthi. Chrysalis is providing technical and financial support for this National Industry Information System, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development. This information system, which acts as a central database for the industrial sector, contains information including details of industries operating in Sri Lanka, business classification, legal status, registration information, UN classification, industry scale, production data, raw material use, market coverage, employment, energy and fuel consumption, waste management and disposal methods. Industrialists can register for this National Industrial Information System by creating their own user account or by submitting information through authorized government officials, and after registration, an official certificate is issued to the industry recognizing it as a registered entity in the National Industrial Database. A special feature of this information system is that registered industries are required to update their business information annually. This will provide the opportunity to make decisions based on more accurate information when making policy decisions in the industrial sector. Minister Sunil Handunnethi said that the Ministry of Industries has initiated the first step towards digitizing the country’s industries and that this new National Industrial Information System will act as a valuable tool for policy formulation, market research, competitive analysis and strategic planning, paving the way for Sri Lanka’s industrial sector to achieve sustainable growth and global competitiveness. Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Thilaka Jayasundara, Controller General of Immigration and Emigration Chaminda Pathiraja, Additional Secretaries and officials of the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, officials of Chrysalis, industrialists and a group of others participated in this event.
NVQ opportunities for Sri Lanka’s handicraft sector…
NVQ opportunities for Sri Lanka’s handicraft sector… The presentation of certificates to the artisans who completed the “Batik Designer (NVQ – 3) Batik Industry Training Course” and the “One Year Certificate Course in Red Clay-related Arts and Crafts” conducted by the National Crafts Council under the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development was held recently (27th) at the Battaramulla Construction Industry Development Authority (CETRAC) Auditorium. In place of the current informal training methods in the batik industry, 32 artisans who successfully completed the “Batik Designer (NVQ – 3) Batik Industry Training Course” in accordance with the formal and standardized competency standards of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission and 9 artisans who completed the “One Year Certificate Course in Red Clay Art and Design” implemented at the Waragoda Ceramic Training Center through a formal syllabus in association with the University of Fine Arts were awarded certificates. Providing national vocational qualifications to artisans in this way, confirming them as internationally recognized skilled artisans, is a very important opportunity for the entire handicraft sector in Sri Lanka. Speaking at the event, Dr. Ayesha Wickramasinghe, Chairperson of the National Crafts Council, said that the professional qualification obtained in this way will be of great help to Sri Lankan handicraftsmen in entering the international market and becoming stable there. She also said that the value of this industry, which is a creative industry, cannot be measured in money and that the products of this industry can fetch a huge price by building brands. The event was attended by Colombo District Member of Parliament, Attorney-at-Law Susantha Dodawatte, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Subhadra Walpola, Senior Lecturer, University of Kelaniya Dr. G. Nilantha Roshan Perera, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Ceramics, Colombo University of Aesthetics Lalith Lansakara, Lecturer at the Department of Ceramics Dr. Ranjith Weerasinghe, Deputy Director of the National Crafts Council Ananda Jayasinghe, officials of the National Crafts Council, certified artisans and a group of others participated.
An Investigation and Inspection Unit for the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau……
An Investigation and Inspection Unit for the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau… A special discussion between the officials of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) and the Minister of Industries and Enterprise Development, Mr. Sunil Handunnetti, was held on the 28th at the GSMB premises in Pitakotte. The Bureau, which had previously operated under the Ministry of Environment, was brought under the Ministry of Industries and Enterprise Development from October 18. Established in 1903 as the Ceylon Mineral Survey Department, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau is responsible for mineral exploration, issuing mining licenses, managing exploration and lease rights, maintaining laboratory services, and providing geological information. During the discussion, Minister Sunil Handunnetti stated that the current contribution of the mineral resources sector to Sri Lanka’s economy remains at a very low level. He emphasized that to maximize this contribution, a national policy on mineral resources should be developed, with clear guidelines and frameworks to direct related activities. The Minister further highlighted the importance of value addition to the country’s mineral resources. He also mentioned that the government has already identified the barriers that have hindered the development of the mineral resources industry in the past and assured that measures will be taken promptly to remove those obstacles and properly position the mineral sector within the Sri Lankan economy. Minister Handunnetti inspected the premises of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, where officials briefed him on various ongoing issues — including staff-related matters, licensing problems, legal concerns, and transport difficulties. The Minister emphasized the urgent need to establish an Investigation and Inspection Unit within the Bureau to address these challenges effectively. The event was also attended by Ministry Secretary Ms. Thilaka Jayasundara, GSMB Chairman Mr. Saman Jayasinghe, Director General and Geologist Ms. Deepani Weerakoon, several Additional Secretaries of the Ministry of Industries, and a number of senior officials and staff members of the Bureau.
The Ministry of Industries has launched a national program to develop young entrepreneurs across the island…..
THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRIES HAS LAUNCHED A NATIONAL PROGRAM TO DEVELOP YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS THE ISLAND. A program to sensitize District Secretaries and District and Divisional Productivity Development Officers on the National Program to Develop 1000 Young Entrepreneurs Islandwide was recently held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute under the patronage of the Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Sunil Handunnetti. This program, which is to be implemented as an innovative project with the aim of empowering the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector in Sri Lanka and enhancing the knowledge, skills, productivity and export capacity of entrepreneurs, is being implemented jointly by the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development and the National Productivity Secretariat. This program was first implemented as a pilot project in the Gampaha District and 100 entrepreneurs were developed during the pilot project and based on its excellent success, it was decided to expand this program islandwide. Accordingly, the first phase of the program is scheduled to be launched in 17 districts this year and the remaining 8 districts are scheduled to start this program in the middle of next year. Through this program, it is expected to provide entrepreneurs with advisory support, training and necessary resources to sustainably grow their businesses. This will make a great contribution to Sri Lanka’s economic growth, job creation and increase export earnings. At this event, the District Secretaries and District and Regional Productivity Development Officers were also informed about the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Framework, the District Committee for Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, the District Export Development Programs, the National Productivity Awards Competition and the Community Productivity Program implemented by the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development. The event was attended by the Secretary to the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Thilaka Jayasundara, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Aloka Bandara, Additional Secretary (Home Affairs) of the Ministry, A. G. Nishantha, Director of the National Productivity Secretariat, Niranja Jayakody, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Board, Mangala Wijesinghe, Additional Secretaries to the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, District Secretaries/Government Agents, officials of the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, officials of the National Productivity Secretariat and a group of others.
Plans Underway to Establish Sri Lanka–Nepal Business Forum…
Plans Underway to Establish Sri Lanka–Nepal Business Forum A special discussion was held between the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Sunil Handunnetti, and the Ambassador of Nepal to Sri Lanka, Dr. Purna Bahadur, at the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development on July 9. The Minister and the Ambassador exchanged views on the current political, economic and social issues in Sri Lanka and Nepal, and emphasized the importance of establishing a Sri Lanka-Nepal Business Forum between the two countries, with the aim of further expanding the existing trade relations between Sri Lanka and Nepal. At this, Minister Sunil Handunnetti briefed the Ambassador of Nepal, Dr. Purna Bahadur, on the trade relations that Sri Lanka maintains with other countries in the region as well as with countries outside the region such as China. The Minister and Nepalese Ambassador Bahadur also discussed at length the possibility of entering into a free trade agreement between Sri Lanka and Nepal, including goods such as gems and jewelry, mineral sand, phosphate, rice, sugar, and garments. At this meeting, Minister Sunil Handunnetti invited Nepalese buyers to attend the “Ratnapura International Gem Exhibition” planned to be held in Ratnapura in August.
BCC is being digitalized…
BBC is being digitalized… With the aim of improving the production and marketing activities of BCC Lanka Limited, which operates under the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, the digitization of the institution’s operations was carried out on July 7 under the patronage of the Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Chathuranga Abeysinghe. This marked a shift from the manual system that had been in place for over 35 years. BCC Lanka Limited is the first institution under the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development to be digitized. Notably, this digitization was carried out completely free of charge by eZuite (Pvt) Ltd for BCC Lanka Limited. Through this transformation, the institution’s activities will now be conducted more transparently. Furthermore, Chairman of BCC Lanka Limited, Mr. Prasanga Indrajith Perera, stated that in the near future, BCC customers will have the opportunity to purchase BCC products online. The launch of the revamped BCC Lanka Limited website and official Facebook social media page also took place in conjunction with this event. The event was attended by Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Chairman Prasanga Indrajith Perera, members of the Board of Directors, officers and staff of BCC Lanka Limited, officials from the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, representatives of eZuite (Pvt) Ltd, and several other distinguished guests.
An international training ……….
An international training program on productivity development in Colombo ………. The International Training Course on Development of Productivity Specialist (Basic) organized by the National Productivity Secretariat under the auspices of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) commenced in Colombo on the 16th. The international training program, which will be held for 12 days from the 16th to the 27th at the NH Collection Hotel, Colombo, is attended by 25 productivity development specialists representing 13 countries including India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Mongolia and Sri Lanka. The primary objective of this training course is to provide expert training on productivity improvement tools and techniques of the Asian Productivity Organization member countries to their member countries. The workshop, which will be facilitated by George Wong, Managing Director and Principal Consultant of Hocklink Systems & Services, Singapore; Syukri Hadafi, Managing Director of Gemba Solution, Malaysia; Dr. Eugene Y. Lin (Taiwan); and Janaka Rathnakumara, CEO of Vijaya Newspapers, will discuss productivity and business competitiveness, issues and challenges affecting economic productivity in developing countries, productivity improvement techniques, and development of productivity skills, among other topics. The inaugural session of the training program held today was graced by the presence of Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, S. W. C. Jayamini, Director General (Planning), I.M.P. Gunaratne, Director of the National Productivity Secretariat Niranja Jayakody, Deputy Director Sugandhika Liyanage, officials of the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and a group of officials of the National Productivity Secretariat participated.
Joint ventures can………
Joint ventures can be successfully carried out between governments. – Industry Minister Handunnetthi. Government-to-government joint ventures can be successfully implemented, says Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti. The Minister said this when he visited the production activities of Lanka Ashok Leyland in Homagama. Lanka Ashok Leyland, which operates under the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, was established in 1983 as a joint venture with India’s Ashok Leyland, and 73% of its shares belong to Sri Lanka, of which the Government of Sri Lanka holds the largest share of 41%. This company manufactures and markets a wide range of heavy vehicles including buses, trucks, tippers, and other vehicles with a local value addition of more than 40%. At present, Lanka Ashok Leyland’s products are exported to the Maldives and have provided direct employment opportunities to nearly 600 people. This is a local for-profit institution that also conducts courses on motor engineering technology. Speaking to the media, Minister Sunil Handunnetti said, Lanka Ashok Leyland can be pointed out as the best example of successful government-to-government joint ventures. This institution, which is successfully run jointly by the governments of Sri Lanka and India, is working to introduce a new product line with low prices and modern technology for the use of the North-East, plantations and rural people, and he said that buses required by schools, universities and educational institutions will be manufactured through Lanka Ashok Leyland and provided to those institutions at affordable prices. He further said that under the name “Made in Sri Lanka”, Lanka Ashok Leyland will take its products to a higher level and expand its production capacity to other countries. Lanka Ashok Leyland Chairman Milton Samarasinghe, Lanka Ashok Leyland CEO Umesh Gautham, officials from the Ministry of Industries, officials from Lanka Ashok Leyland and a group of others participated in this event.
“Thodu” brings business …..
“Thodu” brings business opportunities to Kandy jewelers….. The third Thodu Show, organized by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development with the aim of providing business opportunities to local jewellers, was held successfully on 14th and 15th June 2025 at the Kandy City Centre (KCC) Shopping Complex in Kandy. Organized under the guidance of the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunnethi and Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, this jewellery show was attended by a large number of jewellers representing Kandy, Galle, Gampaha and Negombo districts. The exhibition showcased regional designs by local jewellers as well as modern jewellery designs at very reasonable prices. The National Gem and Jewellery Authority is organising this series of exhibitions as a major step in the development of the Sri Lankan jewellery industry, with the aim of creating market opportunities for jewellers. The third “Thodu” jewellery exhibition held in Kandy attracted a large number of buyers and attracted a large number of visitors. The next edition of the Thodu jewellery exhibition is scheduled to be held in Galle.
Chinese investors…..
Chinese investors who came to Sri Lanka for investment plans… A group of high-level Chinese investors representing various provinces in China visited the island to study investment opportunities in Sri Lanka and plan investments. A special discussion was held between the group and the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development at the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development. The Ministry explained to them the investment opportunities available in Sri Lanka’s vehicle assembly, rubber, chemicals, tourism, gems and jewelry, agricultural products, mineral products and other sectors. In addition to those sectors, the Chinese investors also informed Minister Sunil Handunnetty and other ministry officials about other industrial sectors in which they can invest, including artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and electrical goods. The Minister pointed out that the new government of Sri Lanka will provide land and other necessary infrastructure facilities on a long-term lease basis to investors, that the geographical location of Sri Lanka will provide a special advantage to industrialists, and that the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development will provide the necessary support to make the investments they plan to make a success at the end of their two-week stay in Sri Lanka. The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Ministry Secretary Thilaka Jayasundara, Ministry officials, chairmen of institutions affiliated to the Ministry, business representatives representing the private sector, and On behalf of China, Vice President of China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) Liu Chun, Vice President of China International Chamber of Commerce for the Private Sector (CICCPS) Nan Yi, and a group of investors participated in this event.