Handicraft Marketing Village:

A boon for craftsmen

By Ananda Kannangara

Craftsmen have inborn talents to produce beautiful creations and are assets to country. They render a great service to keep the country’s heritage and the culture alive.

Trade Stall at the Handicraft Village

A stall at the Village

Handicrafts and handloom

Paintings displayed in a stall

It is the duty of the people to protect craftsmen. It is also the duty of the government to identify the inborn talents of their craftsmen and extend a helping hand so that they could develop their talents.

The Handicraft Marketing Village at the Janakala Kendra Complex at Pelawatta, Battaramulla opened two weeks ago will fulfil the aspirations of craftsmen in the country.

The Handicraft Village was opened by Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

Minister Rajapaksa said the government is duty bound to preserve the age-old handicrafts industries and also to protect handicraftsmen. The service rendered by the craftsmen was appreciated.

The national Crafts Council (NCC) was opened in 1982 by the then Prime Minister R. Premadasa. The Janakala Kendra complex was opened a few years later.

Preserving of handicrafts of national and cultural value and development of local handicrafts, supporting and encouraging craftsmen in their vocation, and leading them towards better economic and social standards are among the goals and aims of the NCC.the complex was expanded on several occasions. the Handicraft Marketing Village was set up on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The objective of opening the village was to give more opportunities for local craftsmen to exhibit their products under one roof.

There are hundreds of craftsmen in every part of the country, but many of them make a meagre living due to lack of knowledge on Marketing and sales.

According to the Chairman National Crafts Council Buddhi Keerthisena, The Sri Lankan centre has been recognised by the UNESCO as a heritage handicraft centre.

The handicraft Marketing Village located on five-acres consists of 30 stalls with each stall exhibiting various kinds of handicraft produced by local craftsmen.

Silverware wood carvings, jewellery, batiks, brassware souvenirs, educational toys, paintings, gift items, lace, crochet and masks are the main items that are manufactured and sold at this village.

The Handicraft village has a close rapport with the Sri Lanka Tourist Promotion Bureau and other local tourism related institutions with the objective of having their support to develop the industry. Tour guides very often visit the village with large tour groups and this benefits the craftsmen as they can sell their products.

Keerthisena said that local crafts, which are sold at the village are very cheap in comparison with the prices in the open market.

The village was constructed on the lines of the famous Indian handicraft village `Dilli Hert’.

The stalls are open daily between 10.00 am and 7.00 pm for the benefit of local and foreign buyers. According to statistics over 100,000 locals and nearly 20,000 foreigners visit the village every month.

The objective of opening such a village is not to make profits but to help the large number of craftsmen living in every nook and corner of the country.

The NCC also conducts annual trade fairs at Kandy, Kataragama, Ratnapura and Galle to encourage craftsmen to expand their sales. In addition, craftsmen are also given an opportunity to hold exhibitions at the National Art Gallery.

Local craftsmen are also sent to India for exhibitions by the NCC. The council has also started a craftsmen exchange program with the Indian Government, so that craftsmen in both countries could share their knowledge.NCC, Consultant P.G. Ratnayake said that local craftsmen are also provided with the necessary tools and also financial assistance from banks to uplift their industries. In addition their products are also sent to Laksala for display and sale.According to NCC, any craftsman could sell his products at the Folk Art Centre complex at Pelawatta, Battaramulla.

Pix : Vipula Amarasinghe