Sunday observer Extra

Manufacture of cane products on the wane:

Weweldeniya cries out for a resurgence

By Ananda KANNANGARA

Chairman, Jathika Shilpa Saba Buddhi Keerthisena	Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Minister Douglas Devananda

The great poet Rabindranath Tagore said it’s great when anybody extends a helping hand to another when needed. But, most people in society think only of their own comfort and not of others. They never help others. There are just a few who think of their own comfort as that of others.

The Sunday Observer last week met a section of people in a remote village at Radawadunna in Weweldeniya who need a helping hand from the Government to uplift their business activities. They say their services were at one time highly recommended. But none in today’s society talks either of the service rendered by them or takes the initiative to help them come up in life.

Mahinda Kumara in his shop.

Cane goods on display at Radawadunna

Harischandra finishing a cupboard made of cane Pix: Jenet Jayasinghe, Nittambuwa Group Corr.

These are the cane goods manufacturers at Radawadunna in Wewaldeniya. The livelihood of at least 1,000 families in this remote village is cane goods manufacturing.

A middle-aged person said even during the colonial era in the 1940s, royalty on their way to Kandy had stopped at Radawadunna to buy items such as chairs and other ornamental items manufactured from cane.

65-year-old Sumanasiri recalled the bygone era. His father was involved in the cane industry for over seven decades. After his father’s demise Sumanasiri took to the business.

“Although we had brisk business the industry is now facing a severe crisis. We need government assistance.

The Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Ministry has turned a blind eye on our industry. Unlike in the past, State officials never visit our shops to look into our grievances.”

A trader, 48-year-old Mahinda Kumara Ratnasiri de Silva recalled that Radawadunna was a place where even a former President visited twice to talk to them about their grievances.

“The former President took action to grant us financial assistance from rural banks to develop our industry”.

He requested President Mahinda Rajapaksa who also feels the pulse of the common man to visit their shops at Radawadunna and look into their needs.

“If President Rajapaksa visits us, he would definitely help revamp this traditional industry”, he said.

Without State patronage, the cane industry will vanish before long.

Cane goods manufacturer Somasiri spoke of various kinds of raw cane in the country - Mawel canes, small size `Weaving canes’ and large sized Gedi canes.

Cane is grown in Manampitiya, Bibile, Batticaloa, Passara, Werugal and Trincomalee. It is also imported from Malaysia.

Malaysian cane growers are granted financial assistance by their Government for cultivation.

Forty four-year-old cane goods trader, Weera Harischandra said they formed a society to protect the industry and invited Minister Douglas Devananda to visit Radawadunna to look into the grievances of over 200 manufacturers engaged in the industry.

“But, the Minister has not yet paid us a visit”.

He said a training for cane goods manufacturing was opened by Minister Devananda two years ago at Dematadeniya in close proximity to Radawadunna.

“The centre is closed and the Minister should look into this”.

Trader, M. Karunadasa said it is the duty of the authorities to help cane manufacturers expand business by organising exhibitions at main towns with the help of Gramaseva Niladaris through Divisional Secretariats.

Twenty two-year-old, E.K. Kumara requested the Government to give them an opportunity to open a few shops at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake to enable foreigners to make purchase.

Trader, Gamalath said cane manufacturers buy raw cane from Manampitiya, Bibile and Trincomalee and requested the Government exempt cane from taxes and permits.

Manufacturer, Nihal Weerasinghe said the Government should charge more taxes for Malaysian cane, to encourage local cane goods manufacturers.

Trader, Don Gamage said officials of the Ministry from the Jathika Shilpa Sabawa should visit shops at Radawadunna at least once a month to see the progress of the industry.

Siri Kumara of Radawadunna requested the Government to introduce low interest loan scheme as done for other traditional industries.

He requested authorities to urge State vehicles that go to the North and East from Colombo to transport the products of Radawadunna.

Trader Kamalasiri Fernando said unless the State intervenes the cane industry on which over 1,000 families depend, face a severe crisis.

Trader Gunadasa Peris requested officials of President’s House to organise a discussion with the President to discuss their problems with the President.

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Minister Douglas Devananda said the Government has not isolated small industrialists.

He spoke of the five-day India-Sri Lanka joint industrialists’ exhibition held in Colombo a few months ago and said that such exhibitions will be held in future to help traditional industrialists to sell their products in a big way.

Workshops will be set up in villages and youth will be trained in making cane goods, mats, brushes, wall hangings, ornamental items, brooms and ekel brooms.

Chairman, Jathika Shilpa Saba, Buddhi Keerthisena spoke highly of the services of cane manufacturers at Radawadunna and admitted that they face hardship.

The Jathika Shilpa Saba has initiated programs to protect traditional industries - cane goods manufacturing, mat weaving, coir manufacturing, ekel related goods, reed, clay and pottery making.

“We expect to meet industrialists often to listen to their needs,” he said”.

He said that the Ministry will also conduct traditional handicraft exhibitions at various parts in the country to enable industrialists to sell their products.

“We have also focused attention on conducting promotional campaigns of traditional goods at tourist hotels to enable our industrialists to sell their goods to foreigners,” he said.