Empowering unemployed women by imparting skills development

Friday, 28 March 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A program by the National Crafts Council

“My ministry in collaboration with the National Crafts Council will launch a program to empower unemployed women from the Northern Province, taking into consideration the important role of women in society,” said Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda at the opening of the National Crafts Council’s Batik Training Centre at Chankanai, Jaffna.

This centre is a project launched by the National Crafts Council to train 60 unemployed women from the Northern Province in the art of Batik manufacture. The product items produced by these women will be sold at the sales centre in Jaffna town, which is also a part of this project. In addition to the National Crafts Council, the Industrial Development Board, National Design Centre and Rotarians will extend support to this endeavour. Mrs. Jegarajasingham, Advisor to the Minister will coordinate the program. On completion of the training, the National Crafts Council, in keeping with the announcement of the President at the last budget, plans to give interest free loans to women completing this course in order to help them start their own business. Deputy Minister Weerakumara Dissanayaka, Secretary Sivagnasothey, Palmyrah Development Board Chairman Pasupathy Seevaratnam and Northern Province Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri also participated along with Rotarians and prominent persons from the area.