mASSIVE NUMBER OF lANKAN CRAFTSMEN WINNING AT TOMORROw’S AWARDS

Creating history in Sri Lanka’s handicrafts sector, an unprecedented number of Lankan craftsmen are to be felicitated at Shilpa Abhimani National Handicrafts Awards ceremony held 01 March in Polgolla, Kandy.

“President Sirisena’s scheduled participation at today’s event in Polgolla is an honour to Sri Lankan craftsmen of all types” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen on 25 February. Minister Bathiudeen was discussing the preparations for today morning’s National Shilpa Abhimani Awards event at Polgolla, Kandy with his top officials by his Ministry’s National Crafts Council last week in Colombo.

“This event felicitates almost 600 winners of 2016 November Handicrafts Competition held along with 2016 SAARC Handicraft Exhibition in November 2016” said Minister Bathiudeen and added: “I congratulate all the winners who are greatly upholding our historic traditions. HE the President Maithripala Sirisena’s scheduled participation at today’s Kandy event is an honour to Sri Lankan craftsmen of all types. The work of National Crafts Council under me, in getting SAARC countries to participate in November 2016 Colombo event is commendable.”

Today’s awards ceremony takes place at National Cooperative Building at Polgolla, Kandy. Almost 600 Sri Lankan craftsmen and women who were picked from 2016 SAARC Handicraft Exhibition at BMICH are scheduled to be felicitated by HE the President at this event. Interestingly, the winners come from a wide range of handicraft sectors-ranging from clay, mats, fibres, jute, cotton,  cane & bamboo, metal, jewellery related crafts, masks & puppets, carvings, musical instruments, textiles & textile based, lace, lacquer works, wood based crafts, leather crafts, stone based crafts and paintings & sculptures-and even some specialised arts such as Batik and Sri Lanka’s own Dumbara designs.

The 2016 SAARC Handicraft Exhibition at BMICH was held from November 17-20, 2016, with more than 30000 participants. It was the first ever such national handicrafts expo that was held in Sri Lanka with international participants. It was joined by craftsmen from several SAARC countries.