An international training program on productivity development in Colombo ……….
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 be successfully carried out between governments. – Minister of Industry Handunnetthi.
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 opportunities to Kandy jewelers…..
“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 who came to Sri Lanka for investment plans…
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, andOn 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.
The National Productivity Awards Competition is back after 5 years……..
The National Productivity Awards Competition is back after 5 years…….. The inaugural ceremony of the National Productivity Awards Competition, which is planned to be held after 5 years as a tool to achieve the objectives of the “Clean Sri Lanka” national project, was held recently at the Main Hall of Temple Trees under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and the participation of the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Sunil Handunnetti. This National Productivity Awards Competition, organized by the National Productivity Secretariat under the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, is planned to be held under 3 main sectors: Schools, Government and Manufacturing and Services. The National Productivity Secretariat, established in 1994, is the premier government institution working to promote productivity in Sri Lanka under the guidance of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) in collaboration with 20 regional countries. The Productivity Secretariat implements a number of programs to promote productivity in various sectors of Sri Lanka’s GDP, and the National Productivity Awards Competition holds a prominent place among these programs. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who appreciated the support provided by the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) to enhance productivity in various sectors of Sri Lanka, said that the government is implementing a number of programs with the aim of enhancing the economic and social development of the country and that it is important that productivity programs are implemented in every sector of the country in parallel with the “Clean Sri Lanka” national project. The Prime Minister said that this productivity concept has been brought into the Sri Lankan school system for the first time in history, and the benefits it will bring in the future will be more sustainable. Speaking at the event, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti said that he is happy to be able to bring the productivity concept to the public again after 5 years through the National Productivity Awards Competition. He also said that the objective of his ministry is to socialize the productivity concept and that he hopes to increase the overall productivity of the country through this competition, which is being held in line with the objectives of the “Clean Sri Lanka” national project implemented by the current government. Minister Handunnetti also emphasized the possibility of eliminating inefficiency in the public service and taking the public service to a new path through the implementation of these productive concepts. Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Indra Pradhana Singawinta, Secretary General of the Asian Productivity Organization, highlighted the importance of applying productivity concepts for sustainable economic development in any country. The criteria for the 2025/2026 National Productivity Awards Competition were also unveiled at this event. The event was attended by Secretary to the President, Dr. Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Haputhanthri, Secretary to the Ministry of Industries, Thilaka Jayasundara, Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Governors, Ministry Secretaries, Tri-Forces Officers, Heads of State Institutions, Chairmen of Institutions, State Officials and many other dignitaries.