Lanka mulls setting up die and mould centre

Colombo: Die and mould is a basic tool required for all manufacturing industries. but 80 per cent of die and mould requirement in Sri Lanka has to be imported. For this a large amount of exchange go to foreign countries.

Industrial Development Minister Kumara Welgama in a bid to mitigate the problem has taken relevant steps to uplift the die and mould industry. Two groups comprising 10 each selected from the die and mould industry were sent to the Indo German Tool Room Institute in Aurangabad, India to get technical training.

By establishing a die and mould centre here the relevant die and mould required for the industrial sector could be provided at a reasonable price. Training could be given to technicians which cannot be obtained in private institutions by this centre.

This centre is proposed to be established in the Moratuwa University. Most of the required allocations would be provided by the Industrial Development Ministry and the rest of the cost would be borne by the Moratuwa University and the Die and Mould Manufacturers' Association.

Recently, the relevant project report for the establishing of the die and mould facilities supply centre was prepared by Moratuwa University lecturer Janaka Mangala and Die and Mould Advisory Committee Chairman Buddhadasa and was handed over to Ministry Secretary W. Guruge.

Guruge explaining his ideas therein said that by establishing a centre of this nature a great service is rendered to provide facilities for the uplift of local industries. He also said the Ministry is constantly taking action to provide solutions to the problems of industrialists.