Match manufacturers in crisis; blames inaction by Govt.

Match manufacturers are facing a crisis due to the non-availability of key raw materials potassium chlorate and red phosphorous, which are imported by the Government and supplied to the manufacturers. 

All companies in the industry have temporarily suspended production and workers staged a protest in Kandy town recently. The Match Manufacturers Association President Deshamanya B. D. R.  Rajan stated: “For almost three months the Match Manufacturers Association has been having discussions with the Ministry of Defence,but action has not taken place for the import of the key raw materials and the supply to the companies, which has resulted in us having to temporarily close down our factories.” He went on to state that Government inaction, even after appeals to President Maithripala Sirisena has placed the industry in a challenging situation. An additional discussion was also held with Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen, who instructed the implementing ministry be alerted of the raw material shortage, but there has been no solution, said Rajan.

The protesting workers, who have been employed in this industry for almost thirty years, stated that this is the first time they have been faced with this situation. A formal letter was handed over by the protesting workers to the Kandy Divisional Secretary and Assistant Controller of Explosives H. A. J. R. Hettiarachchi.