However, all further progressive reforms in the toddy industry were shelved by the UNP government and the industry suffered a severe setback. In the nineties the number of distilleries dropped to a mere six. The only two viable distilleries, Waulugala and Mendis, together produced a meagre ten million litres annually - an amount which the Chairman of the society laments, is not worth the effort and money. He says that whereas previously there were more than 50,000 employees in the industry, the number of employees has now reduced to one tenth of the original number. Today the workforce has dwindled to a paltry 5,000, he laments.
Pay is also poor.
The wage for a tapper ranges from Rs. Arguably, an indigenous brew like toddy fetches only Rs. For bottling toddy, the state levies a tax of Rs. If the local industry is to be protected, a scheme to resuscitate the local entrepreneur seems absolutely necessary, a spokesman said. Annually towards the middle of February all toddy contractors sign agreements with their respective distilleries and the supply of toddy commences towards the end of March.