Minister of Science and Technology Chrishantha Abeysena says Sri Lanka must prioritize purchasing from and protecting its local manufacturers, instead of relying solely on financial profits and imports.
He made the remark during a recent meeting held at the Ministry of Science and Technology, convened to facilitate an open exchange of views between traditional brass manufacturers and government officials.
The event marked the second phase of a collective initiative aimed at revitalizing the traditional brass industry. This program was launched following a commitment made by Minister Abeysena to industrialists in the Kurukulawa South area of Wattala.
The Minister pledged to implement a coordinated effort to revive the local brass industry and provide the necessary technical support to enhance its quality and competitiveness.
As an initial step, a team of officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERDC) carried out a technical observation visit to the area. The meeting then focused on planning future actions based on the findings of that field visit.
“While it is possible to import goods similar to those produced locally at a cheaper cost, our focus should not be purely on financial gain. We must prioritize the purchase of locally made products whenever possible and ensure the survival and growth of those industries. This includes providing technical guidance to reduce production costs, introducing modern manufacturing technologies, supporting the creation of high-quality and attractively finished value-added products that can compete globally, and facilitating access to modern equipment. This program is a step in that direction,” Minister Abeysena said.
During the discussion, local industrialists presented several requests to protect and strengthen the brass industry. These included securing raw materials at concessional rates through the Ministry of Industries and imposing limits on the large-scale export of such materials.
In response, government officials acknowledged these concerns and affirmed that the collective program would serve as a platform to find constructive solutions. They encouraged the industrialists to submit a formal report to the Ministry of Industries outlining their demands. The officials assured their continued support to uplift the traditional brass industry by addressing key challenges through the coordinated efforts of the Ministries of Industry, Science and Technology, Finance, and their affiliated institutions.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mohomed Navavi, along with officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Industries, Sri Lanka Industrial Development Board, National Enterprise Development Authority, National Crafts Council, NERD Centre, Sri Lanka Inventors Commission, Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies, and other stakeholders. (Newswire)