National Crafts Institute to assist local craftsmen

Shirajiv Sirimane

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT:A National Crafts Institute would be set up soon to educate local craftsmen and bring their skills upto international standards.

Foreign lecturers as well as university professors would be invited to conduct lectures.

In addition the proposed institute would be given wide publicity on the web to woo foreign students as well. “We hope to award a diploma leading to a degree,” he said.

In an interview with the Daily News Chairman National Crafts Council, Buddhi Keerthisena said that under the Rural Industries Act they have the authority to formulate an institute of this nature.

He said local craftsmen were well away when President R. Premadasa was in office and since then have been looked down upon. “However President Mahinda Rajapaksa is keen to develop this area as over 150,000 people find their livelihoods from this industry,” he said.

Keerthisena said tourism too is helping the industry and with low arrivals it is having a negative impact.

He noted that local craftsmen have been producing the same products over and over again as there was a demand when tourism was thriving.

However in other countries there have been new innovative creations and one reason for Lanka to fall back in this is because there was a demand for new products.

“We are now looking at introducing new products through the National Design Centre in Moratuwa,” he said.

He said that since ‘Laksala’, one of the main places where craftsmen could sell their products, is not doing well, it is a problem to sell products.

“We are now looking at overseas markets and are in touch with the Export Development Board. Minister G. L. Peiris has also promised to assist us in this area.”

Local crafts were also sold at a fair organised by the Japanese Embassy in Tokyo recently. “We can sell over Rs. 2 million at events of this nature,” he said.

To assist local craftsmen to sell their products at regular fairs one was conducted in Galle. “This five day event was very successful as we sold produce to the tune of over Rs. 2 million.”

The second fair would be held from July 24 to 27 in Kuliyapitiya with 40 craftsmen showcasing their products. The Colombo Pola would be held from August 19 to 22 at the Art Gallery.

Another problem faced by craftsmen is the lack of raw material. “To overcome this we have made representations to the Minister of Environment Champika Ranawaka who is looking at the possibility of allocating land for our Ministry,” he said. Ways are also being explored to bring down reeds from the Batticaloa area.