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by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy south group correspondent

The export of copper in raw material form has been banned on a cabinet decision to protect the local craftsmen who require this metal as a raw material for the production of their crafts. Copper and brass will be imported and made available to the craftsmen for their use said the Minister of Central Region Development Tissa Attanayake.

He was speaking at the media conference held at the Auditorium of the Central Region Development Ministry at Getambe in Kandy, convened in connection with the National Handicrafts Trade Fair and Crafts Festival 2003.

Minister Tissa Attanayake said that the maiden National Handicrafts Trade Fair held last year was a tremendous success as the producers, sellers and buyers were able to meet in one forum and understand each other's requirement and it also provided them with a base for the future. What existed earlier was that producer did not know what happened in the market and the buyer did not know the problems of the producer and above all the buyers' requirements were not known.

Minister Tissa Attanayake stressing on the importance and values of this Crafts Festival said that this Crafts Festival will be held from 8th to 12th August, 2003, and it is not one of those crowd pulling entertainment shows. Though this is held during the period of the Kandy Esala Perahera, it is not one of those money wasting shows as only those with a taste for local crafts and cultural values will visit this festival grounds. A nominal fee of Rs. 10 per entrant will be charged as in Sri Lanka nothing given free works well.

He said that there are around 10,000 persons in the Central province who directly or indirectly earn their livelihood through the handicraft industry and we must take steps to build a good future for them so that they would carry on this trade. They must be encouraged and make this a profitable venture as otherwise they will opt for other forms of employment and the handicrafts with our national identity may face a death. It is with this objective of making them aware that there is a demand for their products both among the local and foreign tourists that this National Handicrafts Fair 2003 had been organised, though this subject does not directly come under the Ministry of Central Region Development. The subject ministry - the Ministry of local industries had extended its fullest support and co-operation for this venture.

Minister Tissa Attanayake said that this year's Crafts Festival will be done on a national scale with craftsmen not only from the Central Region but also from Southern, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Northern, Eastern, and North Western Provinces participating. Since large crowds are expected at this year's Esala Perahera, they will receive tremendous exposure, they will be able to find a lot of markets.

He said that they have decided not to use posters for advertising but there will be banners and publicity through media. There will be also cultural shows with aesthetic value. Citing an example and the need for closer rapport, the Minister said that a silver necklace turned out in the village of Naula is sold for Rs. 600 but in Kandy it fetches Rs. 12,000 and the unconsciable profit made by the middleman could be imagined. Therefore state intervention to protect the handicraft industry is necessary.

Minister Tissa Attanayake also said that better marketing strategies is also necessary. For example it takes about two weeks to make a pair of 'Sesatha' (gigantic fans) and a tourist may have only a look at it and he is not going to carry it all the way home. But if there are replicas of it, he may purchase them as souvenirs not only for himself but also for friends and relations. Small is beautiful and we must produce items which are marketable and not produce just for the sake of producing and you may end up a copper.

Touching on a lighter vein the Minister said when he was in Berlin, they were selling small pieces of the new demolished Berlin Wall and he too purchased a small piece for 12 US dollars to bring it home as a souvenir.

He said that the government is aware of the high cost of copper, silver and brass which has affected those involved in handicraft industry using these metals. Copper is being exported to India at Rs. 130 per kilogramme and this will explain why the telephone wires are often cut by certain elements, as they have a ready market.

Mrs. Shiranee Weerakoon, Senior Secretary, Socio Economic Department said that last year's exhibition was an unqualified success and a very large crowd turned up and the local craftsmen benefited much from it. In the island there are around 170,000 persons who are involved in the handicraft industry.

There will be 131 stalls at this Crafts Festival and around 500 craftsmen are expected to exhibit their products. The final day of the Crafts Festival has been named the Tourism Day and the Minister of Tourism Gamini Lokuge is expected to grace the occasion along with other local ministers and diplomats.

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