Sri Lanka’s State-owned Gift and Souvenir Shop, the world-renowned Laksala is expected to open overseas franchise model mini- outlets in England, Australia, Canada and the USA to promote Sri Lankan traditional handicraft items, manufactured by local craftsmen.
Laksala, Chairman Pradeep Gunawardana made this assurance in the presence of over 300 Sri Lankan traditional and young craftsmen who are expected to join the handicraft sector at a programme organized to introduce newly developed handicraft items to cater the local buyers as `household items’ under the brand `Laksala’.
The programme was held at Laksala Showroom at Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 by following COVID-19 health guidelines.
The craftsmen, who are members of the newly formed organization, ‘Professionals without Borders’ (PWB) were guided by a well-known senior architect and Product Designer Ajith Perera.
The Laksala Chairman highlighted that the objective of organizing the event was to create the awareness of local traditional craftsmen on the proposed program initiated by Laksala to sell their finished products at Laksala outlets countrywide and overseas markets under the Laksala brand name.
Laksala is the leading gifts and souvenir outlet chain in the country and it has a large collection of ornaments, silver, gold and traditional gem and jewellery items, high-quality brass wear, leather products, garments and many more items, manufactured by Sri Lankan traditional craftsmen.
In addition to the Laksala outlet at Thummulla Junction Colombo 07, it has showrooms in Colombo Fort, Colombo Museum Katubedda, Ape Gama – Battaramulla, Galle, Welipanne Southern Expressway rest area, BIA Katunayaka, Pinnalwala Elephant Orphanage, Kandy, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and Nuwara Eliya.
Laksala is the only State-owned Gift and Souvenir Shop, established in 1964 under the purview of the State Ministry of Handloom, Batik Handloom and Local Apparel to promote Sri Lankan crafts locally and internationally and also to help local craftsmen to sell their products convincingly under one roof.
The Laksala Chairman further said that high-quality products such as a wide range of gem and jewellery, brass, textile (handloom and batik), tea, wood, carving, spices, ceramic, leather, rush & reed and many more creative products are sold at reasonable prices for local and foreign customers.
Chairman Gunawardana also said that steps will be taken to promote traditional products, manufactured by our local craftsmen to popularize through on-line to receive quick orders from overseas buyers.
