Friday Dec 13, 2024
Friday Dec 13, 2024
Tuesday, 3 July 2018 00:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The BOI’s Polgahawela Export Processing Zone (PEPZ) which is a very significant zone in the Kurunegala District, was established in 2000 on a land area of 65 acres of which 39.65 acres are industrial land. There are 7.60 acres of vacant land on four vacant plots.
The Zone is 77 km away from Colombo and 75 km away from the Katunayake International Airport.
The infrastructure facilities at the Zone include water, the processing of waste water and electricity making it attractive to investors.
The Zone’s enterprises have a significant impact on the local economy as they provide employment to 4,200 staff. The Zone therefore promotes the Government’s objective to develop regional industrialisation. There are currently five enterprises in commercial operations at the Polgahawela zone including three engaged in the manufacture of apparel, one automobile assembly plant and one manufacturing PVC base materials.
One of the enterprises at the Polgahawela EPZ is Micro Cars Ltd., which was established in 1995 by Dr. Lawrence Perera. The company engineered and built Sri Lanka’s first home grown automobile, resulting in the launch of the “Privilege” which was completely designed and made in Sri Lanka.
Micro Cars assembles a full range of vehicles ranging from compact cars and vans to SUVS, buses and prime movers.Micro has ventured into overseas markets and have exported vehicles in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.
In terms of exports, the PEPZ contributed $73.3 million in export revenue in 2016 and this rose to $ 77.4 million in 2017.
The main exporting enterprises are Alpha Apparel Ltd., Cosmic Poly Plast Ltd., Marsylka Manufacturing Lanka Ltd. and Sumithra Garmets Ltd.
