PIndustries Minister Wimal Weerawansa inspecting imported robes during a meeting held at his ministry last Thursday. Anunanayake of the Kotte Chapter Prof. Ven. Kotapitiye Rahula Thera looks on.

Aleading Buddhist monks says the members of the Maha Sangha have to wear imported robes as local producers lack the wherewithal to cater to the demand for robes.

There were around 40,000 Buddhist monks in the country and their annual requirement of saffron robes was around 100,000 and the majority of them had to buy robes made abroad, the prelate told Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa, at a meeting, on Thursday.

Anunanayake of the Kotte Chapter Prof. Ven. Kotapitiye Rahula Thera said that for decades Salusala had been able to produce enough robes for the Sri Lankan bhikkhus. But following the introduction of the open market economic policies, the monks had become dependent on robes imported from countries such as Thailand due to a shortfall in the supply.

Rahula Thera said Thailand, Myanmar and Laos had developed their industries, and it was so unfortunate that Sri Lanka, despite being a leading Theravada Buddhist country could not have its own industry to produce the robes needed for its bhikkhus.

Minister Weerawansa instructed officials to recommence producing robes using standard raw materials so that the bhikkhus could wear Sri Lankan robes while the industry could thrive in creating further employment opportunities.

The prelate thanked the minister for his prompt action and said he hoped that the issue would be sorted out urgently so that both Sri Lankan monks and manufacturers would benefit.