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| Sunday, 10 April 2005 |
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Lanka's original designs for export market by Elmo Leonard Buyers from Norway, Japan and Italy were in Colombo last week for the first Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) small and medium industry `Export Design Competition', EDB chairman Rohantha Athukorala told the awards ceremony. The exhibition took place at the Kala Duwa island in the Beira Lake, Colombo 2. The 50 exhibitors chosen from among 150 applicants, now have the task of selling to identifying untapped markets overseas, Athukorala said. The selected sectors were apparel, jewellery, giftware, toys, ceramics and footwear. The design competition was organised by the EDB with the objective of identifying and introducing unexploited design talent in the country to the export sector. Also, to encourage innovative and original designs when catering to the international markets and to create an awareness of Sri Lanka's design talents among international buyers, Athukorala said. Over 550 paper designs were received and judged by a competent panel. Based on paper designs selected, the competitors submitted manufactured items for the final round of judging. The EDB will help the designers in finding suitable manufacturers to produce the items according to their needs. Ms Otara Chandiram, proprietor, Odel Unlimited, who was a judge in the contest, will exploit the talents of a Sri Lankan designer who was adjudged the best in the textiles category. A young designer who won an award said that she was chosen to enter Medical College, but opted to stay on in the craft industry, whereby she could do a greater service to society. Minister of Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development, Rohitha Bogollagama said that he would help the contestants obtain appropriate technology, tools and loans from rural banks, in a bid to improve their small businesses. |
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