The Southern Provincial Industries Ministry of Sri Lanka has taken steps to manufacture textiles utilising fibre obtained from bamboo and plantain trees for which it has sought the assistance and cooperation of the Ruhuna University Agriculture Faculty.

According to Southern Provincial Minister of Industries U.G.D. Ariyathilake, a huge amount of foreign exchange is being spent for the import of cotton threads for the manufacture of hand loom textiles by the government.

Countries like China and Philipines are harnessing threads of fibre obtained from bamboo and plantain trees for textile production. The ministry is also exploring the possibility of using fibre from wetakeiya and pineapple trees for textile production.

Provincial Ministry of Industries by producing quality textiles suitable for local and foreign markets will also earn a considerable amount of revenue and foreign exchange.