Shot in the arm for handlooms in Gampaha

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa has launched a program to revive the handloom industry in the Gampaha district. It will help solve rural unemployment specially among women. The quality of local handlooms could be substantively improved and refined and a higher demand ensured with the modern designs.

The new handloom design centre, Marandagahamula initiated by the Liya Abiman organisation under the patronage of its President Mrs. Pushpa Rajapaksa provides training in design technology and supplies the inputs to the industry.

The centre was constructed at a cost of Rs. 5 million.

A major reason for the development of the handloom industry is the inflow of tourists and the prevailing peace in the country.

On the initiative of Mrs. Rajapaksa, handloom thread and equipment worth over Rs. 1 million were distributed among the 67 of the design centre. At her instance a private organisation had donated thread valued at Rs. 7 lakhs for the textile manufacture. Accordingly, the total value of thread and equipment distributed free among the textile manufacturers at Ihala Madampella under the auspices of the Liya Abiman organisation amounts to Rs. 2.5 million.

The rationale behind the efforts to give a new lease of life to the local handloom industry is to make it a viable commercial enterprise which would eventually develop rural economy and help solve the unemployment problem in the periphery.