The Norwegian government’s intention was not only to initiate peace in Sri Lanka but to see development in the fields of tourism and in the other areas of the economy of the country.

This was said by Norwegian Ambassador Joh Westborg at the launch of the Sri Lanka National Cleaner Production Centre (SLNCPC) on Monday.

SLNCPC is funded by the Norwegian government and technically assisted by UNIDO. The centre is hosted by the small and medium enterprise developers (SMED) a project of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) and the Friedrich-Nauman-Stiftung in Sri Lanka. Industries Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that his task as a minister had been made easier with the public and the private sector coming together.

Once we have peace we need development by which we can create more job opportunities. Bogallagama also encouraged SLNCPC to conduct case studies.

Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy, Investment Promotion and Constitutional Affairs Minister Professor G. L. Peiris said that he believes that one such programme that is attainable is the cleaner production programme. (SLNCPC) chairman Nihal Abeysekera said: Introduction of cleaner production in industries provide attractive solutions to problems.

Abeysekera also said that it has been proven that the application of cleaner production significantly improves the environmental performance of existing production processes as well as resource utilization efficiency which in turn improves the profitability and competitiveness of industry.

To enable the industries to adopt cleaner production principles, it is essential that adequate capacity is built in the country in terms of conducting cleaner production assessment and providing solutions.

Simultaneously, expertise needs to be built up for the adoption and propagation of cleaner production technologies, promotion of investments in implementing cleaner production measures and pursuing indigenous research and development into cleaner production, Abeysekera further said.

Cleaner production and Environmental Management Branch sectoral support and environmental sustainability division UNIDO representative, senior technical advisor E. Clarence Smith, FCCISL president Macky Hashim, environmental and chemical industrial technology institute head Dr. A. M. Mubarak, Clean Industry Development project team leader Richard Stevenson and engineering consultant Jayantha Ranatunge, environment and natural resources secretary Thosapala Hewage also spoke.(IN)