War-ravaged north calls for more private investments

Sri Lanka’s war-ravaged north has called for private investments in many key areas including construction and healthcare, an official has said.

Governor of the Northern Province, G S Palihakkara was quoted by a local media report saying that although some commendable work on infrastructure had been done in the north and east, these projects alone could not achieve enough in terms of enhancing household incomes.

“We need more private investments in water disposal, recycling, construction, health care, hospitality, trade and vocational targeting at increasing household income of the people,” Palihakkara said.

“It is an urgent priority, therefore that all stakeholders and the private sector have to play a significant role. They must inject further investment and value addition enterprises into those areas,” he added.

The Governor further said that despite the hive in economic activity, household income in the country’s north had remained significantly below average. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the northern province also remains low compared to the other provinces in the country, being 3.4 percent and 3.6 percent for 2010 and 2013 respectively. The GDP per capita income also remains low.

“Apart from some ventures in energy, garment and trading, there have not been any extensive private sector investments in the northern province, since the conflict ended in May 2009,” Palihakkara said.

Sri Lanka’s north and east were the worst affected in a 30-year civil war against Tamil Tiger rebels with the north remaining as the strong hold of the rebels till they were militarily defeated by government troops in May 2009. -- Xinhua