Crafts manufacturing village in Battaramulla:

Boost for Lankan craft industry

Ishara JAYAWARDANE

The National Crafts Council in collaboration with the Economic Development Ministry and Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry, will open a Crafts Manufacturing Village at the Battaramulla Janakala Kendraya complex.

It will be called the Shilpa Craft Marketing Village.

"The National Council is the Apex body for the development and fostering and also supporting the craft industry in Sri Lanka," said National Crafts Council Chairman Deshabandu Buddhi Keerthisena.

The crafts manufacturing village's aim is to provide an opportunity for craftsmen and consumers to meet and buy products. The Jana Kala Kendraya was opened in early February 2007, Keerthisena said. He said this village was set up after a Sri Lankan delegation visited a craft marketing village in Delhi.

The village in Delhi was called Dillihart. Dillihart is a place where all Indian craftsmen have the opportunity to participate. All states of India are represented here. On the same basis the Jana Kala Kendraya has craftsmen from all the provinces," he said.

This craft manufacturing village in Delhi is open 365 days. The Sri Lankan craft manufacturing village will also be open 365 days. The Delhi village is the brainchild of the Indian Government. This village consists of around 200 stalls and has been quite a success, Keerthisena said. He said this experience prompted the National Crafts Council to open the Sri Lankan Craft Manufacturing Village in Battaramulla which is in harmony with nature.

The Sri Lanka Craft Manufacturing Village has 30 stalls. One stall is given for two weeks to a craftsmen, Keerthisena said.

"This craft market must be indigenous to Sri Lanka. It must be tailormade to suit our economy and infrastructure," he said.

The UNESCO has recognized it as a Cultural Centre. Our objective is to make this an internationally recognized centre. The fact that UNESCO has recognized stands testimony to the fact that this is a valuable institution and the world must know about this. There are plans to establish two more of these Craft Marketing Villages in the future.

"Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa will support us in this project. Within the next three or four years the Handicraft sector will develop very fast. It is a village in the city. "We will support the craftsmen and give them opportunity. This will be called Shilpa Craft Market. Rs 50 will be charged from one craftsmen a day," Keerthisena said. The crafts manufacturing village will be opened by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Guest of Honour, High Commissioner for India in Sri Lanka Ashok K. Kantha today.