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Monday Nov 25, 2024
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The Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development is mandated with the responsibilities to strengthen the craft sector in the country. In this context, Provincial craft exhibitions and the national craft exhibition are conducted annually with the support of the National Crafts Council and National Design Centre. Island-wide best craft products and processes are showcased at this national exhibition.
Secretary, Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development V. Sivagnanasothy said that, based on the provincial crafts exhibitions followed by the national exhibition, the best performing craftsmen in the 19 craft clusters and 54 craft sub clusters were recognised, motivated, encouraged and honoured through the Shilpa National Awards program. The National Awards presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The 2014 national awards program for craftsmen was successfully held on 25 February 2014 at the BMICH from 1:30 p.m. President Mahinda Rajapaksa attended as the Chief Guest at this program has given lot of encouragement, motivation and support to handicraftsmen of the country.
This award ceremony was presided by Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda, Senior Minister of Urban Affairs A.H.M. Fowzie, Deputy Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Weerakumara Dissanayake, A.H.M. Azwer MP, Governor of the Northern Province Major General G.A. Chandrasiri, Secretary to the Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development V. Sivagnanasothy and other Ministry Secretaries Dr. Willie Gamage and Karunathilake Amunugama along with Chairman of the National Crafts Council Buddhi Keerthisena and other important officials.
Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda provides the leadership and strategic guidance to take the handicraft sector forward with the support of the Deputy Minister Weerakumara Dissanayake.
The crafts sector carries a tremendous bearing on the ancient tradition, heritage and culture as well as social and regional economic development of Sri Lanka. The Mahinda Chintana – Vision for the Future emphasises to preserve the craft sector and extend support to strengthen and revive the sector for the benefit of the future generations and for projecting the country’s rich culture to the world as well as the tourists who visit Sri Lanka. In this regard, the National Crafts Council, National Design Centre and the Sri Lanka Handicraft Board are working together to achieve these objectives.
334 award winners
There were 334 award winners of which two were gold awards (one from Matara – wood based – Lord Buddha arriving at Nagadeepa, and one from Badulla – contemporary craft- national bird), 13 silver awards winners (four from Galle - carved mask, batik, lace, painting and sculpture) two from Kandy (metal based, wood based), one from Matale (lacquer and sesath), one from Kurunegala (coconut, kithul, thala based product), one from Matara (leaf and grass based product), one from Gampaha (musical instrument), one from Ratnapura (stone based), one from Moneragala (cane and bamboo), one from Colombo (miscellaneous), 37 first places, 39 second places, 47 third places and 196 merits.
In the Northern and the Eastern Provinces 15 craftsmen have got national awards covering various sectors such as palmyrah leaf based products, wood, metal and stone based products and coir based product etc.
The national awards recognises the excellence in various craft sectors such as clay; fibre, leaves and grass; cane, bamboo and rush and reed; metal based, jewellery, masks and puppets; musical instruments, lacquer and sesath; wood carving and sculpture; leather based products; stone based handicrafts; textile and batik; coconut, kithul, thala and palmyrah products etc.
These national awards serves as evidence and proof for the craftsmanship, quality and capacity and will help the craftsmen to access credit from banks and other facilities and services from state and non-state institutions. The success stories of such best performed craftsmen will be disseminated and given wider publicity to encourage the new generation. Every year the Ministry with the NCC recognises, motivates and provide awards, certificates and cash prices over 300 craftsmen at the national level. At the provincial level on an annual basis over 1,500 craftsmen are recognised and given awards to encourage and motivate. Such motivation and encouragement are important to incentivise the craftsmen, the community and the young generation.
12 traditional handicraft villages
The Ministry along with the National Crafts Council and National Design Centre has developed 12 traditional handicraft villages based on the budget proposal-2013 in line with the Mahinda Chintana – Vision for the Future. These craft villages are the Neelawela Jewellery Village and Kuragala Musical Instrument Village in the Kandy District; Unaweruwa Sesath Village and Pahalahapuvita Lacquer Village in the Matale District; Mawgama Mask Village in the Kalutara District, Bope Poddala Wood Carving Village in the Galle District; Hitthetiya Musical Instrument Village, Kapparantota Bobbin Lace Village and Dodampahala Coir Village in the Matara District; Katupotha Clay Village in the Anuradhapura District, Thalankuda Palm Leaf Handicraft Village in the Batticaloa District and Masiyappitti Palm Leaf Handicraft Village in the Jaffna District. These villages have been given technology transfer and training and the market oriented new designs with product development specially to develop souvenir items and gift items and products to reflect ancient historical, cultural and social locations. These initiatives are being supported by the National Crafts Councils, National Design Centre, Industrial Development Board and Palmyrah Development Board.
Moreover, in 2014, the Ministry is supporting 17 traditional handicraft villages in 12 districts namely Puttalam, Kandy, Gampaha, Matara, Jaffna, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala, Trincomalee, Ampara, Batticaloa, Kilinochchi and Kalutara. A total of Rs. 110 million was allocated in the medium term budget framework for development of traditional handicraft villages.
Further, with the Indian small grant assistance program, we are in the process of establishing additional two handicraft production and marketing villages in Kavantissa Pura in Hambantota and Kaithady, Jaffna. These villages will showcase the craftsmen skills, capabilities and designs including products and processes and support craftsmen to sell their products directly to the consumers without channelling through middlemen.
Ban on export of metal scrap
The President has taken action through a Cabinet decision to ban the export of metal scraps such as aluminium, copper, brass, pewter, special kinds of iron, cast iron and steel scraps with the view to support the local craftsmen and small scale domestic industrialists who are dependent on such metal scrap for their raw material requirement.
The Ministry has taken forward many strategic initiatives such as strengthening traditional handicraft villages, pottery village programs, women entrepreneurship development programs, master craftsmen training, product development and design, incubation and training through craft training centres, and other services such as provision of raw materials and tools, facilitation of access to credit and market facilitation through national and provincials exhibition and trade fair.
Further, under the Budget Proposal - 2014, the Ministry of Finance and Planning has initiated action to provide interest free loans without collaterals to women entrepreneurs and a revolving fund is being established to support the working capital requirements of the craftsmen based on the orders from reputed buyers.
This Ministry and its institutions are working towards the vision set out in the National Development Plan of making Sri Lanka a Wonder of Asia.
