A sculptor Indika Udayanga of Elpitiya and handicraft artiste Pasindu Geeth Nimantha Rodrogo of Kanadana who have been registered at the National Crafts Council got an opportunity to fly to Russia to participate in the second World Delphic Competition of Artistes, Sculptors and Handicrafts Artistes.

The competition has been sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and organized by the National Delphic Council of Russia.

National Crafts Council Development Assistant Geethani Weeratunge told The Island Financial Review that Indika was a professional sculptor who had been able to create artistic sculptors by dint of hard work. He would represent Sri Lanka at the Delphic Competition with wood carvings and sculptors and Pasindu would represent traditional paintings at the competition.

She said that Indika and Pasindu had won Presidential Silver Awards at several handicrafts exhibitions and competitions held in Sri Lanka. The participants of the competition would be allowed to showcase 5 to 7 of their creative masterpieces and they could demonstrate their talents and capabilities by engaging in creating items using their own implements and raw materials. Winners would be selected through two competition rounds.

National Crafts Council Chairman Buddhi Keerthisena said that the participation of Sri Lankan handicrafts artistes and sculptors in international competitions would be instrumental in showcasing the latent creative talents of Sri Lankan artistes and sculptors to the world and the competitions would open new international markets for Sri Lankan handicrafts and sculptors.