Sri Lanka has approved a $15.6 million cement plant by Pakistan’s Thatta cement to be built on an industrial zone next to Hambantota Port in the Island’s south.Sri Lanka Ports Authority said the cabinet of ministers had approved the plant this week. The industrial zone had already attracted a chemical plant from Singapore’s Peak Energy which will invest $434.5 million to build a PET resin plant. A sugar refinery by Sri Renuka Sugar of India will invest $220 million. A fertilizer plant connected to Sri Lanka’s Hayleys Advantis group will also invest $7.2 million. There were also 10 projects in the pipeline amounting to around $200 million.