The budget for the year 2023 had set aside an amount of 2 billion to fund and support the SME sector, said Minister of Industries and Chairman of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on industries Ramesh Pathirana said, acknowledging the concern raised by Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, over the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) under the present context at the Committee meeting held.
The Committee was also of the view that a proper mechanism needs to be set out to asses SMEs to which assistance is to be granted in a methodically executed manner.
Furthermore, 19 Annual Reports which has been pending for a long period of time was presented before the Committee for its consideration and was approved.
The said reports were considered and approved at the first meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on industries for the third session of the ninth Parliament held recently (16), chaired by Pathirana.
Furthermore, members also raised concerns over the Dolomite industry. It was stated that the lack of explosives and allowing imports affect the industry and small-scale entrepreneurs.
The Chair stated that the concern pertaining to explosives are being looked into and that the Ministry will look into the concern raised regarding allowing imports.
Many concerns on various industries from matters that arise challenging the development of the batik industry and the availability of raw material required for the industry, concerns pertaining to the national gem and Jewelry industry were also brought to attention by Members of Parliament at the Committee meeting held.
State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera, Janaka Wakkumbura, Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, MPs Rishad Bathiudeen, Buddhika Pathirana, Madhura Withanage, Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda, Sumith Udukumbura, Mohamad Muzammil, Sahan Pradeep Withana were present at the Committee meeting.
