In the midst of escalating military expenditure it is clearly to the credit of the government that it has been able to upgrade the quality of local industry and thereby raise levels of income, especially by strengthening self employment programmes, Professor G L Peiris, Minister of Export Development and International Trade, said in Avissawella recently.

He was addressing craftsmen engaged in the field of handicraft, using coconut products.

Prof. Peiris, speaking in Ihala Kosgama said that, traditionally, craftsmen from this area had shown great skills handed down from generation to generation. However, there is an urgent need to upgrade the quality of these products for export into international markets.

The craftsmen of the area had formed a Co-operative Society two years ago, and the government has taken a series of measures to support and strengthen their activities.

Equipment worth more than half a million rupees is now being made available to the craftsmen, and to ensure maximum benefit systematic programmes of training are being offered to them in collaboration with the National Crafts Council and the National Design Centre.

While there is already a substantial demand for those products among tourists in areas like Negombo and Hikkaduwa, the support now being extended by the government will enable the community to improve their standard of living considerably by earning foreign exchange for their products sent to international markets.

The Minister said that arrangements were being made to enable the craftsmen to sell their products in a row of shops on the Colombo-Avissawella road.

The Export Development Board is giving priority to companies and individuals in the small and medium sector in respect of participation in international exhibitions and fairs. Monetary support, in the form of air fare and accommodation, is being provided for them, to give them the opportunity of canvassing orders for their products overseas, Prof. Peiris added.

Geethanjana Gunawardena, Minister of Housing Development, described the importance of the industry in the overall context of the economy of the area. He referred to the considerable employment potential, and said that the current initiatives will result in upliftment of economic conditions in the area.

Provincial Counsellors Sumith Vijithamuni Soysa and Lionel Kariyawasam participated at the event.

‘A programme has been launched, to address the issue of the infusion of technology and the provision of specialised training for the traditional coconut wood craftsmen of the Kosgama area, with a view to upgrade the quality of their work to the levels demanded by the international export market. This was inaugurated recently by Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Export Development and International Trade at Ihala Kosgama Prof. Peiris and Gitanjana Gunewardene, Minister of Housing Development are seen inspecting some of the products made by the craftsmen.

Also in the picture are Sumith Wijayamuni Zoysa, Member, Western Provincial Council, Ms. Ranjani Iddamalgoda, Member, Sitawaka Pradeshiya Sabah., Buddhi Keerthisena, Chairman, National Crafts Council, Wijedasa Singakkara, President, Coconut Wood CraftsmanCooperative Society of Ihala Kosgama and Prasanna Sujithkumara, Coordinating Secretary to Prof. Peiris.