SLHB to promote eco-friendly shopping bags

by Irangika Range

The Sri Lanka Handicraft Board (SLHB) will set up three plants to manufacture eco-friendly shopping bags as an alternative for polythene bags.

This will be utilised in every Laksala branch in the country to offer its goods to customers.

Under this project, it has selected three villages to set up a rush and reed bags manufacturing project in Nikeweratiya, a paper bags manufacturing project in Kobeigane and Palmyrah bags manufacturing project in Kumbukveva.

Laksala Chairperson Somakumari Tennakoon told the Daily News that the main aim of this programme is to popularise the usage of eco-friendly bags in the country by promoting village-based resources.

This project will also assist the national programme to create 100,000 self-employment opportunities within six months in the country.

"Laksala will give direct orders to manufacture these environment friendly bags to these plants and it will purchase products from mid February.

All Laksala branches will commence to utilise these bags at the same day this month," she said.

The SLHB will expand this programme in the country using raw material such as rush and reed, kitul, palmyrah, jute, paper and cloth to manufacture eco-friendly bags.

The technical knowledge will be provided by the SLHB. This is a good income generating avenue for villagers and it will promote their livelihood as well," she said.