Mr. Sudath Abeysekara, Chairman of the National Crafts Council recently engaged in an inspection tour to training centers. The Chairman who studied the present situation said that under the guidance of Hon. Minister, Wimal Weerawansa, steps would be taken in near future to establish state of the art effective training centers.
The staff of the National Crafts Council attended a special training session on February 10. The workshop was held at NAQDA, Battaramulla and Mr. Monty Ranathunga, Secretary, Ministry of Small & Medium Business and Enterprise Development and Mr. Samantha S. Pathiratne, Chairman of PASSASIA graced the workshop as resource persons. The key-note address was delivered by Mr. Sudath Abeysekera, Chairman of the National Crafts Council.
The significance of this workshop was to provide the staff with the theoretical and practical training needed to carry out many activities online including registration of craftsmen, recruiting apprentice craftsmen for the training sector and submitting applications for craftsmen for the “Shilpa Abhimani” exhibition using modern technology.
H.E. the President too plants an Ebony tree
In parallel to the 72nd Independence Day celebrations held on the 04th of February, the National Crafts Council has launched an island wide Raw Material Planting Project. Trees such as Vetake, Kolon, Bamboo, Flax, Cane, Ebony and Mahogany which are useful in the field of handicrafts received prominence in the tree planting project. We most respectfully salute His Excellency the President for the encouragement given to the local handicraftsmen by planting an Ebony tree on that day.
In parallel to the launch of the “Freedom to the Beach”, the inauguration ceremony got underway at 8 a.m. at Mount Lavinia beach with the lighting of the oil lamp and the craftsmen of the National Crafts Council planted Vetake plants on the beach to mark the occasion, and the Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Municipal Council, Go Sri Lanka and a large number of school children participated in the event.
The plants were distributed by the Mr. Keerthi Udawatte, Attorney at-law, Deputy Mayor of Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Municipal Council and Mr. Sudath Rohana, Chairman of the Independent Television Network and Mrs. Achala Gunawardena, Director of Go Sri Lanka who graced the occasion. Mr. Sudath Abeysekara, Chairman of the National Crafts Council who is also a well-known artist and Mrs.Chandramali Liyanage, Director were also present at the occasion.
