IDB Lakkam Trade Centre completes 10 years

By E. Werapperuma

The Lakkam Trade Centre at Moratuwa, Katubedda at the premises of the Industrial Development Board of Ceylon (IDB) and run under supervision of Director Marketing and Media Sarath Udayasiri, completes 10 years of existence on Sunday, 10 December.

The celebrations connected with establishment of the trade centre would commence following the religious ceremonies including the all night pirith chanting ceremony.

The objective of ‘Lakkam’ Trade Centre is to identify and promote marketable products of small and medium producers and provide the opportunity to market them in one place at an affordable price.

The Industrial Development Board of Ceylon, a statutory body set up as the premier state organisation and was empowered by the Industrial Development Act No. 36 of 1969, to see to the improvement of the Small and Medium local Industries.

The IDB comes under the purview of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce headed by Rishad Bathiudeen as the Minister and A.D. Champika Premadasa as the State Minister. The Secretary to the Ministry is Chinthaka S. Lokuhetti .

There was no way for the local industrialists or to the cottage industrialists a way to sell what they manufacture and it was the duty of the IDB to find ways and means of helping the local Small and Medium industrialists in this regard.

It was also the responsibility of the IDB to see to the development of the Small and Medium local industrial sector in Sri Lanka in line with the National Policy on Industries drawn and implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

The Lakkam was the answer and it commenced operation from 11 December 2007 in the present premises as the strong arm of the IDB, sharing its burden.

The Trade Centre from the beginning was entrusted with the responsibility of creating an affordable market for both customers and local industrialists and also assist the local industrialists to come up to the position of winning a place not only in the domestic market but also see to secure a place in the world market which would help to earn the much needed foreign exchange to our country.

The Lakkam set up with that vision and mission to assist local industrialist has been operating satisfactorily now for a decade filling the vacuum that exited then and the Centre continues to assist the local industrialists and entrepreneurs in their production and ensure that their goods are sold, to their satisfaction and earn their living with dignity. 

The traditional Sri Lankan products come under ‘Lakkam’ logo to reach local and international market.

We are told that many of the items one finds on display at the Lakkam Trade Centre are manufactured using local raw material and the those who are involved in the trade covering variety of activities in the process of production of items for sale are provided with facilities to undergo training in the respective fields of their choice conducted from time to time by the relevant units on request of Marketing and Media unit with a view to improve the standard of local production eyeing to enter the world market, which would be a boon to the respective industries and to our national economy.

One salient point is the dealing. It is direct dealing between the industrialist and Trade Centre. There are no brokers as such and that is not necessary either as the two parties are in agreement to provide quality products and to give best in turn to the industrialist.

“We are not looking for high profit to the Trade Centre but give what is just and fair to the manufacturer and let the customers too have the pleasure of  purchasing what they want  at an affordable price,” said LAK KAM Trade Centre Manager Ms. Indrani Palahiarchchi.

 “We also make it a point to inform the industrialists what the customers look for and the kind of goods/products have a demand in  the market depending on times and seasons.

 “We encourage them to manufacture what is in demand. This would help profit making easy. For we make it a point to sell our goods, at comfortable price to the customer without causing harm or injustice to the labour.  Our purpose is not to make huge profit to the Trade Centre, but ensure to our Small and Medium Industrialists and entrepreneurs that there is a Centre which gives an easy access to  goods they manufacture,” she added.