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| Sunday, 7 December 2003 |
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Local mat in Guiness book of world records Sri Lanka has entered the Guiness book of world records for producing a mat containing 100 therapeutical substances, it was revealed at the National Handicrafts Festival - Shilpila 2003, begun at the Art Gallery, Colombo, last week. The arts and crafts of local craftsmen and women were of a very high standard and evoked much praise from those present. Handicrafts play a large part in the socio-economy of rural Sri Lanka because such industries are largely at cottage level and are often located in remote places. However, it is not possible to quantify Sri Lanka's exports and other local earnings from handicraft, because handicrafts comprise over 28 categories, such as silverware, jewellery, leather, traditional textiles, coconut shell and allied products, musical instruments and the like. Chairman of the National Crafts Council, Folk Art Centre Complex, Batteramulla, Buddhi Keerthisena, said that this annual event is held to honour the best craftsmen and women in the island. Provincial contests of handicrafts are held and the winners enter the annual Silpila event. Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy, Investment Promotion and Constitutional Affairs, Prof. G. L. Peiris, said that the aim of his ministry was to afford capital to the small handicraft entrepreneur. Some of the activities of the National Crafts Council are planning and implementation of craft societies and creating of craft villages on a rural level apart from the registration of craftsmen and women on a national level and issuing them with identity cards. Other activities include, supporting the craftsmen by issuing of raw material which are not easily available in the market. Organising of workshops with the aim on design development and quality control; initiating of training programmes for crafts instructors; encouraging craftsmen to produce export oriented craft products; planing of overseas exhibitions and craft fairs; creating opportunities for local craftsmen to participate at these fairs, making the rural craftsmen and their families self-sufficient and self-supportive, etc. Indian High Commissioner, in Sri Lanka, Nirupan Sen said that in the Indian experience, her art and crafts industry was similar to that of Sri Lanka. There is a move to link the handicraft industries of the two nations and also find markets trans borders. The Norwegian Ambassador in Sri Lanka,Hans Brattskar who, among invitees, said he was overwhelmed at the standard of local handicrafts, and wished the industry and craftspersons well. (EL) |
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