Fresh effort to revive near-dead roofing tile industry

Monday, 22 April 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The roofing tile industry which was on the decline has been revived under the ‘Divi Neguma’ national program, opening avenues of employment for over 10,000 people. A total of 156 tile factories have now resumed operations.

Over 20 million tiles required for the houses of 30,000 low-income families have already been purchased by the ‘Divi Neguma’ national program, according to Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

In the Wennappuwa, Katana and Katugampola electorates, there are 312 tile factories, out of which 256 are small scale factories. These factories, which used to manufacture Euro, Calicut and other types of tiles, started production again only after the ‘Divi Neguma’ program began buying them.

Sri Lanka’s tile industry directly employs 7,250 people while 15,000 persons are indirectly employed. The total number dependant on the industry is 178,000. They have now immensely benefited by ‘Divi Neguma’ national program, according to Samastha Lanka Clay Roofing Tiles Manufacturers Association President Baptist Fernando.

These facts came to light at a recent discussion Rajapaksa had with the association’s representatives on the new trends in the tile industry.

The minister said that the current steps were taken under the annual ‘Deyata Kirula’ program to give those engaged in tile manufacturing the opportunity to contribute to national development.

This in turn has helped to increase job opportunities, raise the income levels of the tile industrialists and thereby improve living conditions of their employees who are now better paid, the manufacturers said. They expressed their gratitude to the Government for helping to boost the industry.