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| Sunday, 21 November 2004 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Small entrepreneurs brought to life by Surekha Galagoda
The Ruhunu Aruna exhibition was held from November 12-14 at the BMICH Colombo to showcase the products manufactured by Small and medium Entrepreneurs of the districts of Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Ratnapura and Moneragala. It was organised by the Prime Ministers office to gether with the Southern Federation of Chamber of Commerce, and Industry on an idea by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa with the aim of finding a market for the products manufactured by the Small and Medium scale entrepreneurs of the above districts. The daily cultural shows highlighted the talents of these districts. The exhibition had more than 200 stalls and it was like taking a trip down south. Entrepreneural spirit as always was there in abundance. From Mask makers, Beeralu lace makers, weavers, Jewellery makers, carvers, sweet meat makers, to people selling vegetable and fruits they were all there. Some veterans selected Ruhunu Aruna to introduce new products and by the final day some businessmen did not have anything to sell.
Some small businessmen were even supported by the National Crafts Council by purchasing the stall space while the Central Bank, also had a stall showcasing the products manufactured by recipients of 'Isuru loan scheme. Sunday Observer Business spoke to a cross section of stall holders and their common grievances were not having showroom space in Colombo, lack of exposure to foreign markets, which they said would bring in the much needed foreign exchange and lack of recognition and red tape at government institutions. Buddhadasa Wijesekera- Vijaya Wood Carving, Akmeemana, Galle- "I started by making wood carvings after attending a study course. This bird tree is one of my new creations and I have priced it at Rs 150. I launched it at the exhibition and the response is tremendous. Not having a showroom in Colombo is the main problem as people who saw my work at the exhibition are interested in buying them." K.M.Kiri Banda and K.M. Wijeratna brothers from Moneragala are makers of Cane furniture. "We did not study but left school early. We wanted to be self employed therefore we went to the nearby forest and cut some cane came back and there was a old cane basket at home. We both removed it and looking at it we made ten 'keta kuda' and sold at the village fair. That was the start and since then there was no turning back and today we are able to make any item looking at a catalogue be it foreign or local. They had items made of thick cane ranging from Rs 4000-50,000." A. Ratnayake a wood carver from Matara said " I don't have a teacher and it was not a craft handed down to me from my parents. I learnt it on my own but now I have a lot of pupils. I don't have to cut a tree for any of my creations as I use branches and trees that fall to do my creations. All the people who have purchased my creations even the foreigners like them a lot and they have helped me. Even when I get an order to export the officials create problems saying that I am exporting antiques. In the event the government steps into help me I will give employment to 1000 unemployed youth he assured." B.W.M. Anoma de Silva makes handicraft and gift items such as jewellery boxes, cake boxes, wallhangers, fruit baskets, table mats, purses out of coconut sisal 'pol matalu'. "We were exporting these items some time back. We came for the exhibition with the hope of getting some export orders but though foreigners visited the exhibition they went past our stall since there was nobody to explain, but we had good sales," she added. C. Methsiri Piyananda from Matara makes items such as spoons and candle stands using coconut shells. He exports them to Norway and Spain. D. Nandasena -Isuru Soft Toys Beliatta said that "he has enough orders and finds it difficult to supply to the demand . Since the factory is in his home he cannot obtain a loan to expand his business which is the main problem he faces." |
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