evidence: President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday inaugurated the $ 27 million Western Automobile Assembly Ltd., (WAA) vehicle assembly plant in Kuliyapitiya. [...] He highlighted that the new factory will not only boost the local economy of Kuliyapitiya but also strengthen the national economy. [...] The President said the factory opening marks just one step in the broader development of Kuliyapitiya. "With WAA opening, we begin the journey of growth for this region. We are creating a 1,000-acre investment zone in Bingiriya, and 500 acres have been allocated in Iranavila for a tourism zone. These areas will become hubs for both tourism and production. As we create new job opportunities, the demand for skilled workers will grow. To meet this, we plan to increase the number of engineers and skilled professionals," he explained.