Handicraft centre opened at BIA

Mohammed Naalir

COLOMBO: Housing and Common Amenities Minister Ferial Ashraff ceremonially opened the handicraft exhibition centre “Beyond the Tsunami” at Bandaranaike International Airport recently. The handicrafts made by the tsunami victims will be displayed at the Centre.

The Housing and Common Amenities Ministry and the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) jointly established this exhibition centre.

The main raw materials for the products are naturally found coconut fibber, water-hyacinth and fish bones.

Considering the well-being of the tsunami affected people in the North-East, JICA’S Recovery, Rehabilitation and Development Project for Tsunami Affected Areas in the Northern and Eastern Region (RRDP-NE) has carried out several development projects in these ares to rehabilitate and promote the living standards of the tsunami affected people in these areas.

The main objective to the attempt is to improve the local industry and the livelihood of the people with the coordination of the Government.

The RRDP-NE has implemented several programmes in the North and East to assist tsunami victims. These include the construction of the Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship village, local cottage industry promotion utilising unused local resources and fisheries development.

“Although they lost their properties and living places they have the ability to overcome it. This attempt deserves commendation and they should be strengthened. We have to draw a systematic plan to penetrate international market with their products,” Minister Ashraff said.