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Project to popularise traditional handicraft among tourists

Sigiriya group correspondent

The Central Province is the talent storage of handicraft and ornamental goods since ancient times. But they go by the traditional practices and designs and no innovations have been added to suit the modern needs of tourism which is a lucrative field we have to capture, says Minister of Central Region Development Tissa Attanayake at a conference held at the CDR Ministry.

The Minister said the necessity of adding value to goods and services is the need of the hour. Products of the handicraftsman have to be collected and a ready market has to be provided. This alone does not give an opening.

Railway stations, Tourist Board parlours and other places where many tourists visit. Botanical gardens, the Sri Dalada Maligawa - Gadaladeniya - Lankatilaka - Haggala - Matale Aluvihare temple - Sigiriya are ideal locations for such displays.

It was also suggested to have mobile vehicles decorated with cultural arts and designs which has been entrusted to the National Design Centre. Tissa Attanayake, relating his experience in Germany said that he bought a piece of stone said to be a remnant of the Berlin wall. Such innovations have to be introduced to give more muscle to our tourist trade.

The designing centre has planned to have miniature products and mini-replicas of popular items of cultural significance.

The Secretary of CRD - Palitha Elkaduwa, Chairman of National Design Centre Swarna Obeysekera and the Chairman of Kandurata Development Bank A. B. Weerakoon were also present.

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