Boost for cottage industries in South

P. P. G. Sugathadasa Thihagoda group correspondent

A program to develop cottage industries in the Southern region has been launched by the Ruhuna Development Bank.

The proposed project is to be initiated in Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts in the Southern Province. Under the first phase of it the mat industry has already been identified to be reviewed.

According to these rural industrialists most of the women engaged themselves in mat industry as a self employment activity and earned a better income through this way.

Manufacture of door-mats, rush and coconut leaf mat industries were very popular items used by the people in the Southern region.

With the introduction of substitute items the demand for them considerably dropped and their income also dwindled as a result, they stated. Ruhuna Development Bank would provide necessary credit facilities to those engaged in these cottage industries. Marketing facilities are to extended by the Laksala and Industrial Development Board as well RDB, Chairman Daya Palihakkara added.

Self-employment generation for the unemployed and economical empowerment of these industrialists would be twin objectives of these endeavours.