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| Sunday, 19 June 2005 |
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News Business Features
Editorial
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IDB trains Jaffna youth in manufacturing leather products
by Thava Sajitharan That little group of trainees looks enthusiastic. Mukunthan (32), Yogananthan(30), Ramanan(33) and Vaikunthan(31), all of whom from Vathiri - a little village off Jaffna - are busy learning a particular skill on manufacturing leather products and footwear as a part of their training for which they have come to Colombo. They are being trained at Industrial Development Board (IDB) in Katubedda. They are here to acquire new technological aspects in order to enhance the production capacity. A ray of hope for the future glitters in their eyes. Amidst being busy, they are not reluctant to share a few words with the Sunday Observer about their experiences. To Vathiri, leather production is nothing strange. In fact it has a history of leather manufacture that traces its origin way back to 1914. Ramanan claims that he has been familiar with the craft since his childhood. Similar is the case with others also. And for such reasons when the Ministry of Industrial Development launched '1,000 villages program' to develop industrial activities, it chose Vathiri as the first village for leather production. As a result, persons from Jaffna are being trained at IDB along with many other trainees from various parts of the island. Mukunthan says that 21 persons came for the training from Jaffna but few of them have already left as they did not find it interesting. Yet he and his friends feel it is important for the country to improve such industries. A bit of insight on national economy, absence of which among higher authorities of the country remains much felt, sparks out in Yogananthan's words when he laments "even a tiny pin we use everyday is not made in Sri Lanka". They insist that we should produce more and more goods within the country all by ourselves rather than relying on foreign countries and thus making those countries benefit invariably. Many of those from Vathiri who are undergoing the training had to shift to other parts of the island in the 90s to continue their venture. The conflict, which still shatters every element of development that the country scatters, happened to be the demon forcing them do so. They are of the opinion that by snuffing out the evil babe, which the lack of amity among people gave birth to, Sri Lanka can elevate itself into betterment both economically and socially. The group says that they have already had enough experience in making a variety of footwear except for leather shoes. They look forward to expertise in 'shoe making' during the training which, they hope, will earn them good income as there is a high demand for leather shoes especially among schoolchildren.
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Editorial | Security | Produced by Lake House |
