Laksala will conduct the traditional handicrafts exhibition ‘Lak Craft Exhibition’ at BMICH in November this year. President Ranil Wickremesinghe will be the chief guest at the exhibition which will be held to coincide with the 65th Laksala anniversary.
Laksala the only State owned gift and souvenir shop has ten showrooms including in Tunmulla Junction, Colombo 7, Colombo Fort, Apegama premises in Battaramulla, Peradeniya Botanical gardens, Kandy, Moratuwa, Galle and Pinnawala.
Laksala sells varieties of traditional items such as handicraft, brass and silver wear items such as coconut oil lamps, elephants, trays, locally produced hand-made apparel, batiks, mats and bags woven from reed that are cultivated in paddy fields, gift items, souvenirs, wood carvings and many other handloom products.
Laksala Chairman Rushan Marambage told the Daily News that from January to August this year Laksala earned a record revenue of Rs. 381 million and only in August Rs. 18 million revenue was recorded.
He said Laksala’s this year’s expected revenue target is Rs. 550 million and accordingly we expect a net profit of 100 million before the end of this year.
“We were able to earn a big revenue last August due to the arrival of many foreign tourists to see mainly Kandy, Kataragama and Bellanwila Peraharas which are conducted during that period,” he said.
The chairman also said Laksala is expected to pay around Rs. 250 million to local craftsmen for supplying handicraft items to Laksala before the year end.
He said in addition Laksala sells varieties of Ceylon tea products, coffee and spices that are cultivated by village farmers, local Ayurvedic products and cosmetic products manufactured by our own craftsmen.
Ananda Kannangara