12 Lankan craftsmen tour India

A program to provide local handicraft artistes an awareness abroad about modern creative and marketing trends has been launched by the National Crafts Council (NCC). The tour is sponsored by the Ministry of Rural Industries and Self-Employment Promotion.

Initially 12 handicraft artistes who won Presidential Gold and silver awards at the 2006 National Handicrafts Exhibition will be conducted on a week's study tour in India from October 15 to 22.

A spokesman for the NCC said the tour will provide these artistes an opportunity to learn new design identification and the latest technology and assimilate them for the development of their own industries. They will also participate in the international Noida handicrafts trade fair in New Delhi.

The Indian High Commission has facilitated this tour and the India - Sri Lanka Foundation will sponsor it by bearing all expenses incurred in India. The cost of return air tickets to New Delhi will be borne by the Bank of Ceylon. Following a request by Minister of Rural Industries and Self-Employment Promotion S. B. Navinna, President Mahinda Rajapaksa donated air tickets at Temple Trees recently.

The artistes joining this tour will include Presidential Gold Award winner D. Weerasinghe and Silver Award Winners H. A. Dissanayake, M. Wasantha Jayasekara, K. P. Ariyawansa, W. Sunil Jayaratne, S. Lionel Chandrasiri, U. H. Premasiri, Inoka Saumyamali Basnayake, H. A. Kokila Madhubhashini, A. G. Dharmadasa, K. H. Pasindu Nimantha and K. H. Austin Pieris.