Roadmap to bring in Ceylon Handlooms to Intl markets

11 Jan '12

5 min read

More than 10000 personnel are engaged in the handloom industry. According to NEDA, there are 919 private sector handloom operators of which 536 are based in the East, operating 2454 looms. In the cooperative sector, 925 handlooms in 110 centres and under the Provincial Councils are 5169 handlooms in 511 centres.

The key Lankan provinces for handlooms are the Wayamba, Western, and Central provinces. The eastern regions of Sri Lanka too were reputed for handlooms but the 2004 Tsunami disaster inflicted damage on the eastern production but despite this, eastern handlooms continue to command buyer appeal.

The SWOT analysis of the Sri Lanka handlooms showed that the all items listed in the 'weaknesses' quadrant are addressable and can be solved. The stakeholders present and Minister Bathiudeen agreed that a comprehensive Value Chain Development Analysis should be carried out for the handloom sector to prepare the development action plan for the sector.

The new handloom roadmap as envisaged on 10 January session envisions more clearly defined handloom responsibilities between the central government and the Provincial Councils. It also envisions increasing of looms from its current 10000 to 15000 in the next five years and generate 7000 new jobs and the establishment of a National Handloom Monitoring Committee to coordinate the overall handloom industry.

Identifying the shortcomings present in the three types of suppliers –the cooperatives, the private sector and provincial council driven loom centres- it envisions formation of Private Public Partnership model involving all three groups.

To overcome low wages, it proposes performance based incentives (based on a number of criteria) for designers and weavers. It also affords high priority for modernisation and introducing IT and networking infrastructure so that information on latest market prices and design trends are readily available to the producers, even if they are rural based micro/cottage level.

The Task Force also readily agreed with the suggestion of Ms Haoua Cheick, the visiting USAID/VEGA Expert who announced: “For international markets, it is essential that Ceylon Handlooms be certified at this end as 'Handlooms' before shipping so that it is accredited for its origin and quality.”

Tilak Collure, Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, addressing the gathering, stressed: “We cannot ignore the statistics and data needs pertaining to this industry in order if we want to develop it from its current stage. Not only that such data should be made available to the producers, but data from producers too should be made available to the Ministries and the proposed National Handloom Monitoring Committee as well as stakeholders.”

Collure added: “I am pleased that we have been able to identify most of the relevant issues to the industry today and we at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce take due note of all the issues highlighted.”

Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka