Local textile manufacturers to benefit from uniform orders

by Ramani Kangaraarachchi

The Government is to strengthen the local textile manufacturers by giving them the opportunity to supply the textile requirement for the security forces and government institutes shortly. This has come to effect following the successful completion of the supply of 9.5 metres school uniform materials last year.

The Textile Ministry has appointed a domestic textile allocation committee (DAPC) to facilitate procurement and assisting the buyers to determine the prizes and to monitor the progress and ensure timely delivery. The board headed by Secretary of the Ministry and consists senior officials and the Director Textile Training and services Centre, D. P. Gunawardena.

Gunawardena said that there is an immediate requirement for one million metres of textile for Armed Forces and Police which they hope to complete by June this year. The Ministry has also taken steps to standardise the material to suit the Sri Lankan weather, health and other international standards. There were about 30 specifications earlier and now it has been reduced to 20 rectifying the earlier mistakes in order to ensure transparency, he said.

A Board headed by the Secretary to the textile ministry consisting 12 committee members have been appointed for this purpose.

Gunawardena said that they have received 15 applications from textile manufacturers responding to a newspaper advertisement published recently and sealed quotations will be called from them very soon. The Government also has taken steps to amend the Quota Board Act after the MFA agreement is over by the end of this year.