NCC promotes handicraft marketing villages

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Development Ministry (TISE) will open handicraft marketing villages in Jaffna and Hambantota, this year.

The handicraft villages will be opened under the supervision of the National Crafts Council (NCC) and the Janakala Kendra Complex at Palawatta, Battaramulla.

The main objective of establishing these handicraft marketing villages for the first time outside the greater Colombo area is to cater to a large number of local and foreign visitors who arrive in these two cities everyday.

National Crafts Council, Director C. S. Poologasingham told the Sunday Observer that these villages will be set up with the financial assistance from the Indian Government.

He said with the setting up of the Jaffna handicraft village, Southern and Northern craftsmen could visit each other areas to sell their traditional products.

"Preserving traditional handicraft which has a cultural value is the objective of the Government and this will also help persons who are in the business".

He said the Janakala Kendra Complex at Battaramulla has been recognised by the UNESCO as a heritage handicraft centre.

The Handicraft Marketing Village at Battaramulla is located on a five-acre land and it consists of 45 stalls and each stall exhibits various kinds of handicraft produced by local craftsmen.

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

He said local crafts which are sold at the village are very cheap when compared with the prices in the open market.