The Association of Tea Factory Owners says that due to the increase in the electricity bill by more than two times, a severe problem has arisen in running the tea factories.
Mr. Lionel Herath, its chairman, states that the current electricity bill of a tea factory with a production of 50,000 kilos of tea has increased to Rs. 1 million with the new revision of the electricity bill.
Usually, for the production of one kilo of tea leaves, an amount of between Rs. 12-15 was spent on electricity.
With the electricity price revision, the amount has increased to Rs. 30-35.
Mr. Lionel Herath further mentioned that the increase in bank interest has also affected the tea industry in a very bad way.
Currently, 550 tea factories are operating across the country.