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Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen gifts a colourful handloom cloth woven by war widows in Mantai West, Mannar District to Assistant US Trade Representative for Central and South Asia Michael Delaney yesterday in Colombo
Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen (centre), Assistant US Trade Representative for Central and South Asia Michael Delaney (third from left) and Advisor to Minister Bathiudeen and prime mover of the War Widow Livelihood Project Himali Jinadasa (right) at the SLPC launch event yesterday in Colombo
The Sri Lanka Peace Collection, the first-ever Lankan product brand modelled on the Aid for Trade global concept, came to life last morning.
“I am honoured to be here today to inaugurate this project to benefit widows of war in Mannar and Mullaitivu Districts. The US is pleased to be able to make a contribution to this project. The beneficiaries of it are among the most vulnerable people in the society. Therefore this effort is especially worthy of support,” said Assistant US Trade Representative for Central and South Asia Michael Delaney yesterday in Colombo, addressing the launch event of the Sri Lanka Peace Collection (SLPC).
The SLPC is an outcome of the Sri Lanka War Widows Livelihood Development Project, a Government initiative designed to assist in livelihood training and empowerment of 80 war widows in the former conflict-affected Northern Districts of Mannar and Mullaitivu. It involves training for war widows in handloom textile weaving for local and foreign markets.
The valuable US assistance for this special initiative comes as a result of Bathiudeen’s personal request made directly to Delaney during his 2012 visit to Sri Lanka. To ensure sustainability of this project, which is modelled on the Aid for Trade concept and secure profits to be channelled to the women, the product range has now been branded the ‘Sri Lanka Peace Collection’.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is providing institutional support for the SLPC through its Textile Unit, the Export Development Board (EDB) and National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA).
Delaney added: “Providing these women with livelihood would do much to speed the process of reconciliation and coming together and healing in these districts. I would be remiss if I did not recognise that the war was truly non-discriminatory in its effect. I am well aware that across this island, in every district, among every ethnic group and religion present on this diverse island, we can find war widows, seriously injured people, relatives who lost loved ones, people who lost good friends and other terrible consequences of the long war. Let us pray that war and terrorism would never return to this island.
“I want to thank you, Minister Bathiudeen, for your leadership in this project. You are responsible for our modest support since you came to me and persuaded me to join our efforts. And I would be remiss if I did not recognise Assistance Secretary of State Robert Blake and the State Department’s Office of Global Women’s Affairs. Minister, let my presence here today and our modest support be a token of the American people’s solidarity with you and the people of Sri Lanka as they go about the difficult process of caring for the war’s victims, healing the wounds, and building a better Sri Lanka for our children.”
Bathiudeen responded: “Two years after making my request to Delaney in March 2012, it gives me great pleasure to witness the launch of the Sri Lanka Peace Collection today. Delaney, I note with highest appreciation that you came forward to support us with the valuable funding on my personal request. As a result of your assistance, we have been able to uplift 80 war widows who have developed skills through this program, thereby ensuring their future. Through the agencies under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, such as the Textile Division, Department of Commerce, EDB and NEDA, we also hope to provide them with market linkages, design support, and business training, so that maximum returns are gained. In fact, let me stress again that Delaney, without your support, we would not have been able to start such a milestone program aimed at a deserving beneficiary group.”
Originally introduced by the WTO, the Aid for Trade concept helps ‘developing countries, and particularly least developed countries, to trade and encourages developing country governments and donors to recognise the role that trade can play in development’.
Most handlooms produced in Sri Lanka have been for the domestic market, although exports have been growing lately. In 2013, Lankan handloom exports surged to $ 1.2 m from $ 0.8 m in 2012. Four Lankan firms export handlooms to the EU, Maldives and UAE.
Also present on the launch occasion were Senior Advisor to Minister Bathiudeen and the prime mover of Lanka War Widows Livelihood Project Himali Jinadasa, EDB ED Dr. Yousuf Maraikkar and NEDA Director M.S. Lakshman Wijeyawardena.
