The “SME Nexus” National SME Strategy Framework 2026, aimed at empowering Sri Lanka’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), was officially launched on Wednesday (13).

The programme was launched under the patronage of the subject Minister Sunil Handunneththi and Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, the initiative primarily seeks to remove structural barriers faced by the SME sector, which represents more than 75% of registered businesses in Sri Lanka, contributes 52% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and employs 45% of the national workforce.

Developed in line with the vision, “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life,” the framework is designed to guide entrepreneurs from sustaining day-to-day livelihoods to transforming into high-growth, export-oriented enterprises.

Built upon a core strategic vision and 11 strategic pillars, the framework will be implemented through the following key focus areas:

1. Technological and Digital Empowerment: Introducing an integrated SME data platform and digital business tools.
2. Institutional Integration: Aligning all enterprise development state institutions toward a unified national objective.
3. Service Delivery Structure: Establishing efficient service delivery through “single-window” service centres and the “SME Connect” call center.
4. Incubation and Startup Support: Simplifying business startup procedures and registration processes.
5. Market Development and Value Chain Integration: Connecting local products to Global Value Chains (GVCs).
6. Business Intelligence and Research: Enabling data-driven decision-making and market research support through the SIBA unit.
7. Recognition of Ecosystem Partners: Evaluating and recognizing the contributions of banks, chambers of commerce, and public officials.
8. Relationship Management: Training development officers as “Relationship Officers” to provide direct guidance and mentorship to entrepreneurs.
9. Financial Access and Growth Fund: Improving credit readiness and establishing a dedicated “Growth Fund” for priority sectors.
10. Entrepreneurship Education and Culture: Promoting entrepreneurial thinking at the school and university levels.
11. Policy and Regulatory Reforms: Reforming laws and regulations that hinder enterprise growth.

With the implementation of this framework, entrepreneurs will gain easier access to business registration services, modern technology, and specialized financial facilities. In particular, free advisory and mentoring services that directly support business growth beyond conventional approaches will also be made available.

Through this national initiative, Sri Lanka aims to support the entrepreneurs who are willing to grow themselves to expand the national economy and to increase export earnings. (Newswire)

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The foundation stone was laid on Wednesday (21 Jan) at the Paranthan Chemical Industrial Zone to reconstruct the Paranthan Chemical Factory, which had remained closed since 1985 due to the conflict in the Northern Province.

The ceremony was held under the patronage of the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunneththi.

The factory is being reconstructed with an investment of Rs. 6,900 million and is scheduled to be completed within 30 months. Upon completion, it is expected to produce Poly Aluminum Chloride (PAC) and Hydrochloric Acid (HCL) to meet domestic market demand.

The foundation stone–laying ceremony was held with the participation of the Minister of Fisheries, Ramalingam Chandrasekaram; Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Harshana Suriyapperuma; Chairman of C/S Paranthan Chemicals Company, Sadanamdam Nesarajan; along with several government officials and distinguished guests.

According to the Ministry of Industries, the Paranthan Chemical Factory is one of the country’s earliest industrial establishments, originally launched in 1954 in Paranthan, Kilinochchi District, in the Northern Province, as a government-owned chemical factory. 

In 1957, under the State Industrial Corporations Act No. 49 of 1957, it was brought under the name Paranthan Chemicals Corporation. Prior to its closure in 1985, the factory utilized locally available raw materials to produce caustic soda and liquid chlorine as its main products, while hydrochloric acid, zinc chloride, and table salt were produced as by-products.

Subsequently, under the Conversion of Public Corporations or Government-Owned Business Undertakings into Public Companies Act No. 23 of 1987, Paranthan Chemicals was incorporated as a public limited liability company on 17 January 1991. (Newswire)

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The Northern Investment Summit 2026 (NIS26) commenced on Wednesday (21 Jan), at the Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre in Jaffna under the patronage of Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunneththi. 

According to a Ministry of Industries statement, scheduled to be held over two days, 21 and 22 January, the summit aims to inform and promote investment opportunities in the Northern Province to both local and foreign investors, enhance the province’s contribution to the national economy, create employment opportunities, and encourage youth and women entrepreneurs.

The summit is organized by The Management Club, with sponsorship from the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, the Consulate General of India in Jaffna, the Northern Provincial Council, the Board of Investment, the Export Development Board, the Tourism Promotion Bureau, and several other state and private organizations.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Minister of Fisheries Ramalingam Chandrasekeram, Secretary to the Prime Minister G. A. Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Harshana Suriyapperuma, Consul General of India in Jaffna Shri Sai Murali, Governor of the Northern Province Nagalingam Vedanayagam, along with a large number of government officials, diplomats, and investors. (Newswire)

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The second edition of the maritime conference “VOYAGE SRI LANKA 2025” was held in Colombo yesterday, aimed at highlighting Sri Lanka’s contribution to the Blue Economy and its potential as a global maritime hub.

Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Hadunnetti participated in the conference, organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB) in collaboration with key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, under the theme “Unlocking Sri Lanka’s Blue Economy Potential”.

The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board stated that the SLEDB remains committed to fostering a globally competitive marine and offshore services sector by promoting innovation, human capital development, and international collaboration.

Addressing the “VOYAGE SRI LANKA 2025” maritime conference, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Hadunnetti emphasized that Sri Lanka’s geographic location is advantageous for the maritime industry. The Minister highlighted that infrastructure development plays a crucial role in leveraging this advantage.

He stated that the ministry is working on formulating necessary policies to achieve international competitiveness in the maritime industry. The Minister also invited international investors to invest in Sri Lanka’s maritime sector, assuring that the Ministry of Industry will provide all necessary facilities and support.

Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, delivered the keynote address on unlocking Sri Lanka’s Blue Economy through sustainable maritime investments and economic transformation.

Mr. Takafumi Kadono, Country Director of the Asian Development Bank, spoke on ADB’s strategic partnership in Sri Lanka’s Blue Economy transformation, lessons learned, and future investment opportunities.

The conference was attended by Anura Karunatilaka, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation; Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development; Tilaka Jayasundara, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development;  Hanif Yusoof, Governor of the Western Province; Arjuna Herath, Chairman, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Export Development Board; along with officials from the Export Development Board, heads of other institutions, industry leaders, partners, and a large number of delegates from Sri Lanka and overseas.

Representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Sri Lanka Navy, Marine Industry Council of Sri Lanka, Colombo Dockyard, and GAC Group Sri Lanka participated in the conference.

International development partners, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Maritime Organization (IMO), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as academic experts from the University of Moratuwa and University of Ruhuna and local and international experts participated as resource persons at the event.

The conference was supported by Lanka Marine Services, Seylan Bank PLC, Lanka IOC PLC, Hayleys Advantis Limited, the Marine Industry Council of Sri Lanka, and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau as sponsors of the programme. (Newswire)

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Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunneththi has extended his apologies for his recent statement, referring to a ‘Guinness World record’ as the ‘Nobel Prize’. 

In a video message, Minister Handunneththi acknowledged the mistake, stating that he had mistakenly referred to a ‘Guinness World record’ as the ‘Nobel Prize’ at the AI Expo held in Colombo yesterday.

“At the AI Expo in Colombo, I mistakenly referred to Sri Lanka’s recognition for the most expensive tea ever sold, which was officially certified as a Guinness World Record, as a Nobel Prize. This was not intentional. I only intended to express the strength of the tea industry and its future. I apologize to any persons who have been affected by my statement,” he said. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship says it has established District Industrial Committees and advisory committees to address district-specific issues. 

These committees include key district-level officials such as the District Secretary, the Governor, and the Chairperson of the District Coordinating Committee.

Additionally, at the Divisional Secretariat level, Divisional Industrial Committees are functioning under the leadership of the Chairperson of the Divisional Coordinating Committee.

A special discussion regarding the coordination of the Ministry of Industries’ operations and district-level activities was held in Parliament this week under the leadership of the subject Minister Sunil Handunneththi and Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe.

This meeting was attended by Members of Parliament representing every district of Sri Lanka, along with the private staff of both the Minister and Deputy Minister. 

The main objective of this meeting was to establish mechanisms to address district-specific issues under the mediation of 25 designated Members of Parliament.

Industrial Development Committees and Their Functioning

The Ministry has already initiated the establishment of District Industrial Committees, which include key district-level officials such as the District Secretary, the Governor, and the Chairperson of the District Coordinating Committee.

Additionally, at the Divisional Secretariat level, Divisional Industrial Committees are functioning under the leadership of the Chairperson of the Divisional Coordinating Committee.

These committees also include representatives from:

– Industrial Development Officers

– Provincial Industrial Authorities

– Industrial Development Board (IDB)

– National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA)

– Small Enterprise Division (SED)

– Export Development Board (EDB)

– National Craft Council and similar institutions.

Moreover, infrastructure-related agencies such as Chambers of Commerce, Banks, the Urban Development Authority (UDA), the Ministry of Lands, and Energy Committees can also be invited to participate as relevant.

The primary goal of these committees is to resolve industry-related issues, such as land acquisition, raw material transportation, bank credit, and energy supply, at the regional level.

If these issues cannot be resolved regionally, they must be escalated to the District Committee, and if still unresolved, further referred to the Ministry.

Role of the Ministry and Advisory Committees

The main function of the Ministry of Industries is to facilitate and support industrial activities, not to engage in industrial production itself. The Ministry is responsible for resolving policy-related issues, including taxation, import/export challenges, and more.

There are about 24 Advisory Committees established for various sectors such as garments, food, boat manufacturing, spices, vehicle manufacturing, and consumer goods. These consist of representatives from leading institutions and chambers within each sector.

These committees discuss policy-related matters (e.g., VAT, import/export regulations) and submit recommendations to the Ministry, the Cabinet, the Ministry of Finance, or the Ministry of Trade, as appropriate.

The Role of Parliamentarians

It was emphasized that Members of Parliament should focus on resolving issues at the policy level, rather than engaging in day-to-day, village-level matters such as loans, property disputes, or business conflicts. Such grassroots issues should be addressed by the relevant local committees, and only unresolved policy-level matters should be brought before the Ministry.

Key Responsibilities of Parliamentarians at the District Level:

• Launching large-scale projects: Initiating major industrial ventures (e.g., a garment factory or industrial zone) that generate significant employment.
• Utilizing idle lands and buildings: Identifying underused or uncultivated lands and government buildings and proposing their industrial use to the Ministry.
• Reactivating dormant industrial estates: Identifying non-functional factories or lands in existing industrial estates and facilitating their reactivation or handover to new entrepreneurs (agreements may be arranged through the Ministry).
• Preparing study reports: Compiling data and reports on available lands and businesses for submission to the Ministry.

Parliamentarians Appointed for Ministry Coordination by District:

• Vasantha Piyathissa – Ampara District
• Upali Samarasinghe – Vavuniya District
• Oshani Umanga – Kalutara District
• Nandana Padma Kumara – Kalutara District
• Ajantha Gammaddage – Matara District
• T.K. Jayasundara – Galle District
• Rajeevan Jeyachandramurthy – Jaffna District
• Dr. Sellathambi Thilakanathan – Mullaitivu District
• Aruna Panagoda – Colombo District
• Kandasamy Prabhu – Batticaloa District
• Padmasiri Bandara – Polonnaruwa District
• Ravindra Bandara – Badulla District
• Vijesiri Basnayake – Kurunegala District
• Sunil Rajapaksha – Ratnapura District
• Deepthi Wasalage – Matale District
• Ruwan Wijeweera – Monaragala District
• Athula Welangoda – Hambantota District
• Champika Hettiarachchi – Gampaha District
• Mohamed Faizal – Puttalam District
• Thilina Samarakoon – Anuradhapura District
• Roshan Akmeemana – Trincomalee District
• Thanura Dissanayake – Kandy District
• Manjula Suraveera – Nuwara Eliya District
• R.M. Samantha Ranasinghe – Kegalle District
• M. Jegadeeswaran – Mannar District
• Elankumaran – Kilinochchi District. (Newswire)

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Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunneththi has engaged in an inspection tour of the Nilwala River to explore the possibility of using it for tourism and transportation purposes.  

According to Minister Sunil Handunneththi, the measures were taken per a decision at the Matara District Coordinating Committee, headed by him, regarding the Conservation and Development of the Nilwala River. 

He said the visit also focussed on finding quick solutions for flooding along the river.

Some of the key decisions taken related to the development of the Nilawala River are;

• To seek quick solutions to the flood problem through the technical committee
• Using the Nilwala River for the cargo and passenger transport
• Development of the tourism industry along the Nilwala River  
• Transportation of tourists to Sinharaja Forest via Akuressa
• Measures to prevent erosion of the Nilwala River banks
• Quick removal of garbage and waste from the river. (Newswire)

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Minister Sunil Handuneththi has lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding a group impersonating him to solicit funds for fake community service projects.

Speaking to the media, the Minister revealed that friends and associates of his in Japan, South Korea, and the UK were contacted via WhatsApp.

“First they take an unclear video call which lasts around 16 seconds, and several bank accounts have been used in this scam. They are fearlessly using my image, voice, and technology to deceive people,” the Minister said.

Handuneththi urged Sri Lankan expatriates to refrain from contributing to these scams, stressing that neither he nor the government solicits funds in this manner. “If we seek funds, it is only through responsible organizations,” he said.

Handuneththi also disclosed that his signature, the official Parliament letterhead, and seal had been forged to promote a fake Zoom discussion scheduled for January 5, 2025.

The Minister has called on the CID to conduct a thorough investigation and enforce the law against the scammers. He appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information or who may have fallen victim to the scam to report their experiences.

“If anyone has donated funds to these fraudulent schemes, we encourage them to come forward and share their information so it can be included in the investigation,” he said.

“If they are bold enough to impersonate public representatives in this manner, one can only imagine the extent to which they might be deceiving the public. It is imperative that the law is enforced against such fraudsters to prevent further exploitation,” he added. (Newswire)

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