-The proposal made by the Minister of Industries, to take actions in the following order to solve the issues that have arisen in supplying special Bamboo sticks used as raw material for manufacturing incense sticks,was approved by the Cabinet.

• To import required Bamboo sticks from abroad for the manufacturing until the required quantity of the special Bamboo sticks used as raw material for manufacturing incense stick are produced locally to the required standard.

• To grant a tax concession for the Bamboo sticks so imported.

• To take necessary action to identify the areas where the special Bamboo plants are available (ගල් බම්බු-Bambusa aspera) and identify suitable lands and to cultivate these plants by the Department of Forest Conservation, Department of Agrarian Development and Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority.

• To obtain the assistance of the Industrial Development Board to introduce upgraded technical devices for manufacturing incense sticks.