Welfare fund for handcraftsmen

Sandasen MARASINGHE

The National Crafts Council has initiated a welfare fund and a mechanism to award honorary titles for handicraft artistes in accordance with a pledge made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the handicrafts artistes across the country at a discussion held recently.

National Crafts Council Chairman Buddhi Keerthisena said two immediate measures were taken by the NCC at a press conference followed by a ceremony to grant air tickets and visas for 24 veteran handicraft artistes to participate in a grand handicraft exhibition 'Surage Kund Mela' in India. Five artistes had left for India and the other 24 will leave on February 5.

Keerthisena said the participants include the winers of the Shilpa-Handicraft Exhibition and the tour was organized by the NCC for the fourth time.

The objective of the tour will be to open avenues for Sri Lankan handicraft artistes to acquire knowledge on the Indian Handicrafts Industry and new creations.

The Surage Kund Mela a large scale handicraft exhibition was held in every state of India and it included handicraft artistes of the SAARC countries.

Referring to the Shilpa Welfare Fund he said it would provide welfare facilities for the handicraft artistes above 70 years and those who become disabled while engaged in their trade.

Referring to the Viswakarma Honorary Title that is to be awarded by the NCC under the supervision of the Rural Industries and Self Employment Promotion Minister, Chairman Keerthisena said the title would be awarded to the outstanding handicraft artistes above 50 years.

He said that the objective of the award was to evaluate the service rendered by the handicraft artistes to bring forth the handicraft art which is a reflection of the Sri Lankan cultural identity, down the generations.