Shilpa to give new lease of life to handicraft industry

Mohammed Naalir

Rural Industries and Self-employment Promotion Minister S. B. Nawinna expressed confidence that the Shilpa-2007 handicrafts and mini-scale industries exhibition and sale would provide local and international market opportunities to those who are engaged in the industry.

The exhibition will be held from November 9 to 12 at the BMICH from 10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. daily.

Addressing the media at the Ministry premises, Minister Nawinna said that the Ministry is aiming through this exhibition to subject the handicraft industry and the mini-scale industries to appreciation, expanding the local and foreign market opportunities, protect the traditional handicraft industry and create an appropriate environment to run the industry uninterruptedly and establishing new self-employment opportunities by promoting the handicraft industry.

He said that the handicraft works which won in the provincial level exhibitions held under 16 sectors conducted by the National Crafts Council in collaboration with the Provincial Industrial Ministries throughout the country including North East will be entitled to participate.

Those who won in the provincial level competitions which was held in 13 categories conducted by Sri Lanka Industrial Development Board will be entitled to set up stalls at the national exhibition.

The works that obtained first, second and third place will be featured in the Shilpa - 2007 National Exhibition.

The exhibition centre will comprise 212 exhibition stalls of handicraft and mini-scale industries. An exhibition stall will be allocated for a nominal charge of between Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000.

Minister Nawinna said the artists and industrialists will be given an opportunity to sell their products and afforded an opportunity to obtain local and foreign orders while the consumers would get a great opportunity to purchase quality goods.

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake will inaugurate the Shilpa-2007 Exhibition and Sale.

Mass Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa will open the second day of the exhibition, Export Development and International Trade Minister G. L. Pieris will open the third day and Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Karu Jayasuriya will open the final day.