"President Mahinda Rajapaksa who had taken up a number of challenges in his political career has been able to win his goals in the midst of opposition. When a country is faced with a war, industrial sector becomes stagnant. In 2009 the war will end and with the development of the Tourism Industry a substantial progress in the Handicrafts Industry could be achieved," Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operative and Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena said at the Award Presentation Ceremony for Shilpa – 2007 Handicarfts Artistes held at Batthaamulla JanaKala Kendraya recently.

National Crafts Council (NCC) Provincial Assistant Director Nishantha Wijeyalath told The Island Financial Review that the highlight of the Award Presentation Ceremony was felicitation ceremony with presentation of awards to four handicrafts artistes who had won international acclaim for their exceptional skills in handicraft making.

Rural Industries and Self-Employment Promotion Minister S.B.Nawinna said that the Award Presentation Ceremony was at the BMICH in the previous years and his Ministry was proud of holding the ceremony at Janakala Kendraya for the first time. The Batharamulla Janakala Kendraya premises had been prepared to erect trade stalls to represent the respective handicrafts making provinces. This process had facilitated the local handicrafts manufacturers to receive more orders from local businessmen.

Hereditary industries, including the handicrafts industry had been relegated to limbo during the period of colonialism and pen economy. At present the world economy was faced with a crisis. The Government was of the view that by encouraging local handicrafts artists and capturing a bigger export market for handicrafts products Sri Lanka would be able to earn a great deal of foreign exchange in the coming years.