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Crumbling pottery industry has potters worried
View(s):Pix and text by K.R. Rajamanthri
The dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year sees a pot of clay filled with milk in many households. However, in recent times, the pottery industry has faced many obstacles, as voiced by potters in the Welimada area.
Shashika Udayamali, a potter from Dambawinna, Welimada, said that the main reason for the downfall of the pottery industry was the introduction of aluminium pots and pans. 
Another potter, Wasantha Mala, said potters from Welimada and Haputale get their soil from the Wellawaya area.
S. Sivaraj said it was now costly to travel to Wellawaya in search of suitable soil. “We need to travel at least 100 miles in search of the particular type of soil. The transport costs about Rs 25,000. Furthermore, we have to pay Rs. 14,000–16,000 to the landowner in Wellawaya. We also have to pay Rs. 3000 to the Divisional Secretariat as transport fees,” he said. “We spend so much, and yet we cannot sell our products,” lamented Mr. Sivaraj.
Another potter, Subramanium Sathyasheelan, voiced his concerns over the skyrocketing electricity cost and its impact on the industry. “We cannot bear this cost with our low income. We urge the government to consider revising the tariff for the sake of the industry,” he said. “The children of potters are leaving for higher-paying jobs, which is no surprise,” he added, highlighting the uncertainty over the future of the industry.
Collecting the special soil from Wellawaya (top) and left potters are worried about poor sales
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