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| Sunday, 23 January 2005 |
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To replace tsunami damage : New coir-yarn machines by Hiran Senewiratne The coir-yarn industry which has been successful for several years in the South of the island as a cottage industry has been severely affected by the Tsunami disaster, industry sources said. At present the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is in the process of assessing the damage caused to the industry which is a major blow to the entire Souther sector.It has been revealed. According to informed sources, there has been more than a 20 per cent shortfall of coir- yarn to both local and export markets due to the disaster; Coir-yarn is mainly used for geo-textile manufacturing industries. Coir Council International (CCI), apex body of the industry says that most of the women in large number from the Hikkaduwa to the Ambalanthota coastal belt were engaged in the coir-yarn business in large numbers and are now listed as victims of the Tsunami. "More than 1000 coir-yarn spinning machines have been washed away.Each machine provided three employment opportunities for the people," CCI - Coordinator, Nelum Herath said. The Sri Lanka Allied Coir Manufacturing Association which is the member of the CCI is expected to provide 500 coir-yarn spinning machines with assistance from USAid, in affected areas to resuscitate the sector immediately , Herath said. She also said that China and Korea are the main buyers of Sri Lanka coir- yarns. "We will lose those markets, if we don't get the industry back to normal," she stressed. CCI will assist the people by providing machines for disaster victims.Each machine will cost around Rs 3000 and will be provided with assistance under the USAid program, Herath said. Leading exporter Neomal Perera said that three large fibre mills in Hambantota along with small ones have been affected.Ninety per cent of the country's white fibre yarns are manufactured in the South, and has a lucrative overseas market. Most of the coir pits need to be cleaned out as they are filled with mud and dirt after the tidal flooding, for the coir industry to resume , Perera said. He said that it is incumbent upon the government to help mill owners to get back to their businesses as soon as possible because most of the small coir-yarn manufactures are depending on them. Sri Lanka had exported around 1284 T of coir-yarn last year (2004),the total value being Rs 77 million. |
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