Revitalizing tradition
Shilpa 2009 Handicrafts and Rural Industries National
Exhibition and Trade Fair P:
Jayanthi Liyanage
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Wood-sculpted Dandumonara carrying Ravana and Seetha
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Gold winner Indika
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It does not require an effort to recall the saga of Seetha and Ravana
but to sculpt this memory from wood, Indika Udayanga from Elpitiya
needed fifteen years of planning and five months of carving from a razor
blade.
The resulting product clinched him a Gold in the handicrafts segment
of the just concluded Shilpa 2009, National Exhibition and Trade Fair,
the other composites of which were product designs and rural industries.
“A win coming 12 years after I won the wood-sculpting National first
award for creating Rama, Seetha, Lakshman and Hanumantha,” rejoiced
Indika.
National Crafts Council (NCC) and Small Industries Department, under
the auspices of Ministry of Rural Industries and Self Employment
Promotion, held nine handicrafts exhibitions at provincial level and
gleaned over 1170 winning entries. Exhibited in Shilpa 2009 at Sirimavo
Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Center, they were further scrutinised
bringing forth two Gold winners from Southern and Central Provinces.
In their wake, followed 13 Silver awards. Separately, sixteen
specific handicraft categories produced a considerable number of
National first, second and third and merit award winners. This was an
endeavour to lead local craftspeople to a better economy and improved
social standards.
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Gold winner I.L.M. Jayaratne’s Bronze Buddha statue |
“A real master craftsman, creating authentic craft pieces,” was high
praise accorded Indika from his mentors, NCC officials. “ ‘A side view
imparts the real impact’ you see Ravana looking back at Seetha with a
conflict-ridden eyes.” He had vied in Russia with 65 countries
previously, managing to secure the Bronze.
I.L.M. Jayaratne from Pilimathalawa was the other Gold winner,
sculpting a Brass-casted Buddha statue, retaining its traditional
characteristics. “The Silvers were awarded as four each to Central and
Western Provinces, two to Vayamba, one each to Uva and Sabaragamuwa and
the remaining one to North Province,” NCC Central Province Assistant
Director Nishantha Wijelath said.
“After 1983, this is the year we have been able to conduct a proper
exhibition in the North,” clarified Geethani Weeratunga, NCC Development
Assistant-Media. “A winnowing pan made from palm leaves won a Silver.
Palm leaf products and deity figures are handicrafts endemic to the
North Province.”
Among other Silver winners are a Thammattum drum, a Kuruni (paddy)
box, an exquisite Sesath, a Brass tray, a Batik art, a mat and
traditional Buddha statues.
“NCC gives prominence to traditional handicrafts,” Geethani
elaborated. Sesaths, which are made only in Sri Lanka in the world, has
its origins in Unaveriya village in Matale. “Clay work existing from the
beginning of human civilisation, is highly advanced in other countries
but in Sri Lanka, it is a little backward,” she felt.
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Silver carving- National award-first place- Nayana Kumara’s
jewellery box
Silver winning winnowing pan from North Province |
“In the fibre, leaf and grass category, Galleha leaf mats are slowly
becoming extinct. We try to perpetuate them in contemporary society as
wall hangings,” Geethani mentioned another objective of NCC. A bag made
from Banana fibre brought H.T. Vinitha from the North Central Province a
National award. Products turned out from the fibre of Nawa trees and
Japan Jabara plants were also on exhibit.
Replicas of traditional temple murals, Bali-Thovil-Shanthi Karma
sculputre, masks, Kemana, a fishing ploy and bird and nest pictures
contrived from wood shavings caught the eye among meticulously created
Dumbara items, musical instruments, coconut shell jewellery and
hand-crafted lace cloth.
The Battaramulla-based NCC Craft Village has 14 cottages and
soon-to-be opened further 40 at Janakala Kendraya, where craftspeople
can stay a month, producing and selling their crafts. The concept is
taken from India’s Dilhani complex, explained Geethani.
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Balangoda Deepika learnt pillow-lace from Janakala Kendraya
Pictures by Sulochana Gamage and Saman Sri Wedage |
The Trade Fair of numerous stalls had on sale rare rice varieties of
Kurulu Thuda, Pachchaperumal and Pokkali, nature and spice crafts of
air-freshener and ‘Moth’ bags, kitchen knives, sea shell jewellery,
appliquéd cloth, neem powder pesticides and many other attractions.
The Industrial Development Board-sponsored exhibition showcased
National winners of 14 segments of small and medium industries,
displaying machinery and products of self-employed entrepreneurs.
National Design Center (NDC) exhibited 750 new product designs at the
main BMICH hall. NDC’s Young Designer Exhibition brought out work of
students finishing their higher diploma. Among trade stalls of Samurdhi
Bank societies, pictures made from jewel dust was a novelty.
Inaugurating Shilpa 2009, Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula
Gunawardena said that the close of war annexed to the economy one-third
more ground area and a similar extension of coastal-line. On Dec 4, the
second stage of Narahenpita Kirimandala Mawatha Economic Centre will be
made available to small and medium industrialists. NCC Chairman Buddhi
Kirthisena pointed out that from Dec 7, there will be weekly visits of
tourists to the NCC craft village.
Industrial Development Minister Kumara Welgama said that the
Government sought to inhibit importing handicrafts by increasing cess,
if at least seventy five per cent of their local counterparts are
produced here. The Ministry invested on product design education, an
important necessity of the day. Hon. Minister of Rural Industries and
Self Employment Promotion S.B. Navinna spoke of the need of innovative
designs and technology to make local industries saleable in the world. |
