Local factories to manufacture school uniforms

By Chanuka Mannapperuma

Five small scale and large scale factories have undertaken to manufacture school uniform material necessary to meet the year 2008 demand, an official of the Textile Ministry told the Sunday Observer.

The Government has apportioned Rs.500 million among the five local factory owners to procure necessary machinery for this purpose, official said.

The total uniform requirement for 2008 is estimated at 10.5 million metres of which 8 million metres are for school uniforms.

Official said only a part of the total requirements could be met locally within the specified period due to the limited capacity, the balance will be imported as usual. "The local textile manufacturing industry has the potential to meet the present school uniform requirement provided the decadent indigenous textile industry is revived", he said.

The manufacture of materials locally for school uniforms has helped to effect substantial foreign exchange savings. The government is planning to reduce the cost of imported materials.