Laksala records over Rs. 170m income

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The Sri Lanka Handicraft Board better known as Laksala which is a non- profita venture is progressing as a profit making institution. It had earned over Rs.170 million during the past 11 months, said State Resources and Small Enterprises Development Minister Dayashritha Tissera.

All measures are in place to develop institutions which belong to the State Resources and Enterprises Development Ministry as profitable institutions including Laksala. All these institutions will become profitable ventures in the near future,he added.

The minister was addressing the Hastha Karmantha Athwela loan scheme agreement signing ceremony at the ministry,recently.

The State Resources and Small Enterprises Development Ministry has introduced the Hastha Karmantha Athwela new loan scheme in collaboration with the Bank of Ceylon to encourage local handicraftsmen.

According to the minister this loan scheme had been arranged under the Divi Neguma development programme to uplift the rural economy according to the Mahinda Chintana future vision.

The BoC is to release around Rs.500 million on the Hastha Karmantha Athwela loan scheme to be distributed among handicraftsmen who are supplying their products to Laksala outlets. These suppliers are entitled to loans up to Rs.02 million under a low interest rate of nine percent.