Liya Abhiman boosts handloom industry

Tuesday, 18 December 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Economic Development Ministry and the Industrial and Commerce Ministry will soon take steps to uplift the handloom industry in Ihala Madampella village, Divulapitiya, known for its many traditional handloom textile manufacturers, stated Liya Abhiman Organsation’s Chairperson, Attorney Pushpa Rajapaksa.

Attorney Pushpa Rajapaksa said this at a ceremony held in connection with the handing over of handlooms and other equipment to 122 textile manufacturers at the Handloom Textile Design Development and Services Centre at Ihala Madampella. The beneficiaries were 65 manufacturers who completed the first stage of training conducted at the centre and 57 others who completed training under the second stage.

Speaking further, Rajapaksa said that the program launched on Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s advice to develop the handloom industry – by introducing new designs and new technology to manufacturers (who so far earned low incomes) and finding markets for them – had reached success.

She added that the Liya Abhiman Organisation, with the Economic Development Ministry’s assistance, had renovated a dilapidated building at Ihala Madampalle to house the Handloom Textile Design Development and Services Centre for training traditional handloom textile workers to manufacture textiles of high value.

The Chairperson stressed that her organisation’s objective is to raise the economic level of nearly 1,000 handloom textile manufacturers in Ihala Madampella stage-by-stage. After distributing the equipment, she inspected the households manufacturing handloom textiles.

Western Provincial Councilors Chandana Jayakody, Chandrika Sakalasuriya, Niluk Mallawa and Industrial and Commerce Ministry Secretary Anura Siriwardena also attended the event.