A study of the location of industries

Abstract

This study i s concerned with the location of industries in Sri Lanka, a case study of t h e location of three selected state industrial l corporations in the Colombo Region and some recommendations towards an industrial location strategy in Sri Lanka. The discussion in the study has been pursed in five chapters . The first Chapter reviews the major theoretical concepts of location of industries. It discuss the Weberian and Loschian theories of industrial location and subjects these theories to critical appraisal. The final section of the Chapter examines the relevance of the major theoretical concepts of industrial location to Sr Lanka. The second Chapter reviews government policy with regard to industrial location. It present saccade for a policy of industrial location and examines the locatlonal 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 regard s the location of industries and finally presents the opinion of t h e Colombo Municipal Council on the subjects of location of industries within the City limit s . It also observes that the problems of the City should be viewed in a m o r e comprehensive manner. The third Chapter comprises 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 vocational . criteria established in the discussion in Chapter One. The three industries are the Ceylon Ceramics Corporation, the Ceylon Steel Corporation and t h e State Graphite Corporation. The final section in this Chapter discusses the limitations to the study and critically analyses the merits and demerits of the irrespective locations accompanied by some observations on the subject. Chapter Four 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 m o r e comprehensive way by taking in to 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.