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| Sunday, 18 August 2002 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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National plan for handicrafts next year by Elmo Leonard Craftsmen and craftswomen from rural areas of Sri Lanka will get the chance to exhibit their products at a 'Handicraft Exhibition and Sale' from August 21 to 26 at the National Art Gallery, Colombo.
Organised by the National Crafts Council (NCC), the exhibition and sale is expected to help rural craftspersons to bypass the middleman and meet buyers and consumers face to face, and thereby obtain better prices for their products. Such a trade event would also afford producers from far away rural settings, the opportunity to understand the needs in the marketplaces, both here and overseas. The handicrafts on display would include brassware, pottery, rush and reed ware, mats, lacquer ware, handloom products, soft toys, vases, wooden items, batiks and ceramics. Chairman, National Crafts Council, Buddhi Keerthisena said: "The Arts Council is of late, making a definite attempt to help rural-based craftspersons to improve their products, and find new domestic and export markets." There are 120 craft societies all over the country, linked to the NCC, with some of them having 30 to 50 craftspersons. NCC is in the process of assisting them in the use of advanced technology, better tools, and in finding designs which match the needs of overseas buyers. Another objective is to assist rural craftspersons to obtain better prices for their products. The NCC will organise similar exhibitions in other urban centres in the next few months, Keerthisena said. The NCC will also hold a National Handicrafts Festival and awards presentation to honour excellence among craftspersons in Sri Lanka. The event, where the best producers from 20 categories will be chosen by a panel, is scheduled to take place at the BMICH, Colombo, from December 27 to 30. Craftspersons can send their applications to the National Crafts Council, Battaramulla or to the District Secretariats in their provinces. During October and November, handicraft exhibitions will be held in every province to choose the participants for the National Handicrafts Festival. The festival will include a tourism promotion programme in coordination with the Ceylon Tourist Board, daily cultural shows and a food festival. Hoteliers will also play a big part in the festival. Two lifetime awards, for a person who has devoted his or her life to the upliftment of handicraft, and to a master craftsman or craftswoman, will also be made at the festival. Meanwhile, the NCC is preparing a national plan to uplift the rural handicraft industry. The draft is expected to be presented to Secretary to the Ministry of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion Ranjit Fernando in December, and be implemented early next year. The Ministry will allocate Rs 10 million to help improve the quality of handicraft exported, on a short-term basis. |
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