Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti emphasized at a press conference today (01) that no decision has been taken to close the Sevanagala Sugar Factory.
He pointed out that a group claiming to be farmers had recently held a press conference stating that there was a risk of closing the sugar factory, based on their political interests.
Farmers and representatives of farmers’ organizations in the area held a press conference on May 29 stating that the Sevanagala Sugar Factory, owned by Lanka Sugar Company, has suspended the acceptance of sugarcane harvest.
They stated that the factory’s machinery and tools have been out of order since May 21 and that the company is incurring losses, and that the authorities are refusing to purchase their harvest.
When Ada Derana asked Lanka Sugar Company Chairman Sadamali Chandrasekara about the allegations on the same day, she denied them. The Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development issued a press release that night stating that there was no risk of the Sevanagala Sugar Factory closing down.