President presents awards at Footwear & Leather Fair 2013

President Mahinda Rajapaksa attended the fifth Footwear and Leather Fair 2013 showcasing Sri Lanka’s leather products and fashion footwear on Sunday, the last day of the exhibition.

The 2013 fair organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in association with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Industrial Development Board (IDB) and the Sri Lanka Footwear  and Leather Products Manufacturers Association, opened on Friday (8) at the BMICH in Colombo.

The President presented awards to the winners of the design competition organised to identify and encourage the young and upcoming designers and give recognition to them. This year’s fair, which consisted of 214 trade stalls, also featured a best stall competition.

The fair showcased a wide range of shoes including fashion shoes, rubber boots, beach slippers, safety shoes, sports and canvas shoes etc., and high quality leather goods including leather gloves, travel bags, back packs, ladies handbags, jackets and small leather goods. The fair was mainly aimed at giving recognition to leather industries, local and international, under a 10-year plan of the Government. Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen, Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and Secretary to the Minister of Industry and Commerce Anura Siriwardena also participated at the event.