Pakistan joins effort to revive SL handloom textile industry
Saturday, 8 February 2014 00:01
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Although many countries tend to forget the village when reaching development goals Mahinda Chinthana treats both urban and rural areas equally since its programs are centered on the individual and the family.
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa made this observation when he thanked the Pakistani Government, the Pakistani people and the Liya Abhiman organisation on the Sri Lanka Government’s behalf at the opening of the handloom textile training project and the textile village at Kottala-Meerigama, recently.
The Pakistan Government has given all assistance to this project which Minister Rajapaksa has initiated under the guidance of Liya Abhiman Chairperson Attorney Pushpa Rajapaksa to revive the traditional handloom industry.
Earlier handloom industrialists in several areas of the Gampaha District including Divulapitiya-Madampella and Kottala-Meerigama faced many problems which reduced their income. Under the new programs launched they have been provided with training courses, handlooms and other necessary equipment, technological assistance, new designs and a market.
Speaking further the Minister Rajapaksa said that with the commencement of giant industrial projects they tend to gobble small industries in other countries but not so in Sri Lanka thanks to Mahinda Chinthana which gives priority to household economic units.
Minister Rajapaksa added that the Government had already provided rural areas with roads, power and energy, telecommunications, pipe-borne water, medical centres, schools and other facilities. Since over 70% of the population lives in villages providing such facilities to them means that the majority of people in the country have benefitted from them.
Today the supply of electricity to most Districts is 100% and to the rest it is 95%, according to the Minister who also pointed out that Gampaha District which has the highest population of all Districts has been completely transformed compared to what it was four years ago. At the time Gampaha had the lowest supply of drinking water whereas today almost every household has it.
Minister Rajapaksa pointed out that the Government was able to bring water from the Kelani River to the Ma Oya. Two giant water supply schemes were inaugurated at Ja-ela and Katunayake a few days ago. Another is coming up at Meerigama.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner Casim Kureshi said that Pakistan-Sri Lanka ties have been strengthened through economic and trade cooperation. Pakistan exports textiles worth $ 12.6 million annually. Handlooms and other equipment provided with Pakistan’s assistance were distributed among 70 handloom operators with each industrialist getting items worth nearly Rs. 100,000.
Among those present were Liya Abhiman Chairperson Attorney Pushpa Rajapaksa and Textile Department Director Vijitha Hemapriya.
