A study of the policy of location of industries, a case study of three state industrial corporations and some recommendations for an industrial location stradegy in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study is concerned with the location of industries in Sri Lanka, a case study of the location of three selected state industrial corporations in the Colombo Region and some recommendations towards an; industrial location stretchy in Sri Lanka The discussion in the study has been pursued in five chapters- The first Chapter reviews the major theoretical concepts of location of industries. It discusses the Weberaian and Loschian theories of industrial location and subjects these theories to a critical appraisal. The final section of the Chapter examines the relevance of the major theoretical concepts of industrial location to Sri Lanka. The second Chapter reviews government policy with regard to industrial location. It presents a case for a policy of industrial location and examines the locational implications of the industrial policy in Sri Lanka in its historical perspective. The next section critically evaluates the effectiveness of the current industrial policy as regards the- location of industries and finally presents the opinion of the Colombo Municipal Council on the subject of location of industries within the City limits. It also observes that the problems of the City should be viewed in a more comprehensive manner. The third Chapter comprised the empirical portion of the study. It justifies the selection of only state ventures and examines the location of the three selected state industrial corporations in terms of locational criteria established in the discussion in Chapter One. The three industries are the Ceylon Ceramics Corporation, She Ceylon Steel Corporation and the State Graphite Corporation., The final section in this Chapter discusses the limitations to the study and critically analyses the merits and demerits of their respective locations accompanied by some observations on tke subject. Chapter pour-of the study highlights some points for consideration in the formulation of a policy on industrial location. It commences with an attempt to restate the problem in a more comprehensive way by taking into consideration the various issues raised in the previous chapters... The final section in this Chapter suggests some strategies towards a rational policy of industrial location. Chapter Five of the study comprises of the conclusions and recommendations.