Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development, while inaugurating the “Ransalu” (Golden wear) – the Twentieth National Handloom Exhibition and Contest 2010, recently stated that as the Sri Lankan government is firm on developing its handloom apparels sector over a period of next five years for which it has formulated a five year strategic action plan.
The Minister while addressing the gathering said that the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa intended that even people at grass root level should reap the advantage from the development.
He stated that the government on the very first day of the event secured more than Rs 8.3 billion that is US $75 million worth of investments for apparel sector.
Minister Rajapaksa further said that he is sure that the government would successfully achieve its target set for the handloom industry as Minister Rishad Baduitheen is an energetic young leader and would make this happen while working with his committed team.
Minister of Industries and Commerce, Rishad Bathiutheen, while speaking at the event, said that the government was meticulously concentrating on developing the textile sector by means of a five-year strategic plan.
He further assured success of this plan and development of the industry and added that they intend to establish 33 industry projects and nine colour labs by 2016 and they would definitely establish at least three labs by close of 2011.
In the past enough attention was not paid to the handloom sector. It was only after the present President Mahinda Rajapaksa took charge that any heed was paid to the sector.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India