ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka plans to build three techno parks by 2023 in addition to two already being constructed, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa said on Friday (12) presenting the annual budget for 2022.
“To boost a techno-entrepreneurship driven economy, the budget 2021 proposed the establishment of techno-parks of which two are already being set up in Kurunegala (Rathgalla) and Galle (Akmeemana) while by 2023, three new techno-parks are proposed to commence in Habarana, Nuwaraeliya (Mahagasthota), Kandy (Digana),” the minister said, reading from the budget document in parliament.
In September this year, the government information department said Sri Lanka was to set up a state company to develop technology parks and list it in the stock market to raise funds.
Related: Sri Lanka to set up state tech park company, list in stock market
A Technology Park Development Company, fully owned by the Secretary to the Treasury will set up give tech parks in Galle, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Kandy and Batticaloa districts, a statement said on September 07.
The parks will be “commercial enterprises and in the future, the company plans to register on the Colombo Stock Exchange and allow private investors to participate in the project,” the statement said.
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Technology had identified locations with access to expressways, tourist attractions and the availability of required human resources.
The Cabinet of Ministers had cleared the proposal submitted by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the Minister of Technology, which was also named in the 2021 budget. (Colombo/Nov12/2021)