The chamber was working on alternative energy sources with Dutch funding, he told a business meeting organized by the Ceramics Council.

One option that was promising was production of biomass using the gliricidia plant.

"Now we have a mechanism to grow which can produce the energy needed for industry, not only ceramic but plantations and leisure to offset the increased cost of petroleum fuels," Cooray said.

Fuel wood can be used as an alternative source of energy at least in the initial stages of firing ceramicware in the kilns when temperatures are not at their highest.

"At least in the initial applications in the ceramic industry, this method can be used," Cooray said.

He said they were planning to ask the island's regional plantations companies, to consider cultivating gliricidia, in order to ensure a steady source of firewood supply in the right quantities.

Already, the Coconut Research Institute has been encouraging coconut estates to grow gliricidia to supply biomass power plants.

The government has declared gliricidia as the fourth plantation crop to produce energy as an alternative source to the energy crisis in Sri Lanka through the use of firewood.

Gliricidia can be grown on less fertile lands or on lands with steep slopes.

The island's tea, rubber and coconut plantations have vast acreages which could be used to grow gliricidia.

Cooray said studies show that about 400 hectares of land is needed to produce one megawatt of electricity.

Using fuel wood as energy was also a 'green' concept, Cooray said.

With the crop grown by out growers, it could also boost rural incomes.

Some studies show that using fuel wood can reduce production costs by 40-50 percent.

The island's companies have earned a reputation in global markets for their quality products but are faced with rising costs that make them uncompetitive.

Sri Lanka's ceramics firms, particularly porcelain tableware manufacturers, are struggling to compete in global markets owing to the cost of energy, estimated to be the highest in South Asia.