Shilpa Navoda to boost handicrafts

Shilpa Navoda 2018 overall first for all of craft sector. Giritalegama Maha Vidyalaya Polonnaruwa K. P. Nirmal Shashika receives the award from Industry and Commerce Ministry Secretary K. D. N. Ranjit Ashoka. Industry and Commerce Ministry Director Indika Ranatunga, Western Province Department of Industries Director D. M. N. Chandradithya and National Crafts Council Chairperson Heshani Bogollagama (right) are also present - Pic by Ruwan Walpola

By Shannon Jayawardena

The Presidential awards titled “Shilpa Navoda” that launched yesterday is an all-island competition and exhibition aiming to boost the handicraft sector and give it more market access to improve earnings. 

National Arts and Crafts Council Chairperson Heshani Bogollagama said: “This program began two years ago to strengthen and promote the handicraft sector in the country. We saw that there was a certain distance between the people and the industry, mainly due to the difficulties that come within the industry itself. So, we got together with the Ministry of Education to bring to life this event.”

Last year’s competition accredited around 250 schools while 12,000 students were trained in order to further develop their skills. This year’s competition however hosted a much larger number as over 4000 students participated from approximately 680 schools. 

The students were judged based on different categories which included, red clay products, statue sculpting, jewellery items, grass products, puppets and masks, local musical equipment, embroidery cloth, batik and so forth.

While all the items produced by the students from all districts of the country were recognised, places first and second were awarded with special certificates and a cheque of Rs 25,000. Over 50 of these products were displayed at the exhibition. 

Ministry of Commerce Secretary Ranjith Asoka stated: “We saw how skillful these students are through the products that they had created. When we take the handicraft sector, we only think of a few skills while we were proven wrong through this exhibition.”

“Every product has a price and so does the handicraft sector. However, when we consider this industry, we see that the number of employees has been reducing. Therefore, this program will greatly help solve this issue while giving prominence to the industry,” he added. 

The three missions of Shilpa Navoda are to protect the cultural and traditional values of the handicraft sector, take the industry to a global platform by giving it the recognition that it deserves, and to show schools and society the importance of the handicraft sector in the country, stated Officials.