The Ministry of Industrial Development has, with the aid of other related agencies, pepped up the match manufacturing industry which underwent a lean period in recent years. The match manufacturing industry, which comprises ten small-scale ones, has now overcome its problems and is showing progressive improvement in a competitive environment. A press release of the Ministry stated that one of the prime factors in the downward trend in recent years was the many problems faced by the oldest and one of the largest, match manufacturing firms in Sri Lanka and its closure in early The company changed hands many times amongst its shareholders. The Ministry of Industrial Development along with the DFCC ensured stable conditions for the Company to restart which was equipped with the most modern plant and machinery. The new management sorted out all labour disputes and is determined to regain the market.
Another problem affecting the match manufacturing industry was the availability and distribution Potassium Chlorate, a necessary chemical for the production of matches which resulted in some of the smaller factories winding up.
The classification of this chemical as an “explosive” and the non-availability of this item on time were frequent complaints from the industry. The Ministry of Industrial Development intervened actively with other government agencies to streamline procedures for import and distribution. Industrialists have now expressed their content in regard to the availability of the chemical.
The country can now look forward to a period of steady growth and sparkling development of this industry, now that the problems plaguing them have been overcome.
