Laksala woos Middle East buyers via franchise showroom in Dubai  

SALA Global MD Chinthaka Wijewickrama (left) and Sri Lanka Handicraft Board (Laksala) Chairman Lakmal Wickramaarachchi exchange the business agreement to open a Laksala franchise outlet in Dubai as State Minister of Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Production Dayasiri Jayasekera looks on – Pic by Ruwan Walpola

In a bid to boost foreign exchange earnings and help rural artisans, Laksala this week signed a fresh deal to tap prospects for Lankan handicrafts in the Middle East region.

It signed a franchise agreement with Sala Global Ltd. for a Laksala outlet in the United Arab Emirates, considered the mega hub for the Middle East.

The initiative to sign up franchise arrangements overseas is the brainchild of State Minister of Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Production Dayasiri Jayasekera.

Last month Laksala signed the first overseas franchise with Boom Lanka Batik and Gifts LLC-USA to tap prospects in Miami, USA.

Under the latest initiative, Sala Global will set up a franchise showroom spanning 200 square feet in Dubai and will exclusively market Laksala products. Sala Global has already started the Laksala franchise business marketing campaign and promotional events in UAE. 

Laksala product portfolio includes handicrafts, batik, handloom items, apparel, tea, coffee, beverages, spices, organic products, canned/bottled and processed food, cosmetics, Ayurvedic products and other products.

The signing and opening of franchise showroom come ahead of Dubai Expo 2021 which opens in October.  

State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said efforts to boost global markets for Laksala products were aligned with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s manifesto of ‘Saubhagyaye Dekma’. The franchise showrooms will introduce truly Sri Lankan traditional products to the international market and thereby strengthen the “people-centric economy”. 

He also said the initiative was a boon for Sri Lankan rural handicrafts artisans who were currently suffering due to non-arrival of tourists to Sri Lanka. 

Other financial benefits to Laksala include generation of additional export sales turnover, franchisee’s monthly sales turnover-based commission to Laksala, and annual royalty fee for the usage of brand Laksala. 

Laksala is the only State-owned gift and souvenir shop established in 1964 under the purview of the State Ministry of Handloom, Batik Handloom and Local Apparel to promote Sri Lankan crafts locally and internationally and to help local craftsmen sell their products convincingly under one roof. Accordingly, Laksala has provisions to promote the sale and marketing of handicrafts of Sri Lanka within the country and overseas.

SALA Group has 30 years of experience in the IT field having a large dealer network covering the entire country. It is a leader in Information Technology and has been introducing innovative products to Sri Lankan consumers, keeping in mind that technology should be made affordable to the average consumer.

SALA represents several leading brands of computer peripherals ranging from Prolink, Alcatel, Deluxe, Fujitsu, Sala Prosat, and Sonicgear in Sri Lanka. It also holds the ownership for two local brands, E Pad and E Marc. At present, SALA is the proud holder of a strong customer base comprising Government ministries, banks, mercantile sector organisations and private individuals. SALA has also partnered with three telecommunication operators in the country, Sri Lanka Telecom, Dialog Axiata and Lanka Bell, in many of its projects. SALA also started the first capsule hotel in Sri Lanka.