Pakistan to assist Sri Lanka’s traditional craftsmen
[17 May 2001]

Pakistan has agreed to assist Sri Lanka’s handloom and brassware industries.  The pledge was made during the 8^th Meeting of the Sri Lanka – Pakistan Joint Council held in Pakistan earlier this month.

The assistance will mainly consist of raw materials, technical know-how and training facilities for product development.

Pakistan is Sri Lanka’s second largest trading partner in the south asian region, in terms of trade turnover.

Brassware, silverware and wooden products, hand woven cloth, batiks, pottery and masks are among the handcrafted items made by the traditional craftsmen of Sri Lanka.

Kandy, the seat of former kings in central Sri Lanka, is where human hands delicately fashion brass into ornaments of aesthetic value. Cast or wrought brassware items are adorned with fine carvings, silver or copper inlays and damascene.

Boxes, trays, lampshades, lamp-stands, hinges, mountings, vases, statuettes, figurines and oil-lamps are all produced with skilfully carved traditional designs. These exquisitely handcraft articles are available in the government handicraft emporium, ‘Laksala’ in Colombo and its branches and in numerous privately owned handicraft shops.

Sri Lanka’s handloom woven cloth and silks in vivid colours and attractive textures and weaves are popular choices for furnishings, accessories and in Sri Lanka's burgeoning apparel industry.

The Pakistani assistance is expected to revive the traditional crafts practiced by people in rural Sri Lanka.

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