Crafting Markets

The Hapag-Lloyd delegation including, Capt. Prateek Gandhi – Director Operations, Hapag-Lloyd, Regional Office, Dubai,Mr. Faheem Mir – Manager - Operations, Hapag-Lloyd, Regional Office, Dubai,Mr. Lalith Witanachchi – Vice President, Hapag-Lloyd Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Mr. Mindaka Dassanayake – General Manager, Hapag-Lloyd Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.,Mr. Rohan Ranasinghe – Terminal Operations Manager, Hapag-Lloyd AG and Mr. Iqram Cuttilan – Managing Director, Aitken Spence Shipping Ltd poses for a pic with SLPA’s Chairman -Admiral Sirimewan Ranasinghe and the Managing Director - Eng. Ganaka Hemachandra. SLPA's Vice Chairman - Eng. Herath M.P. Jayawardhana, Director (Operations) - Mrs. G. Zavia Miskin and Director (Marketing and BD) - Mr. H J K U Kumara are also present.

Devendra is putting final touches on a Sesatha, traditionally used as a symbol of power but in modern times a decorative item in homes.
Although its usage has changed overtime the process of making one has remained the same over the centuries.rn

rnDevendra uses traditional methods passed down through the generations to hand paint a Sesatha. rn

rnThe intricacy of the designs and the traditional methods used means the job is time consuming with a Sesatha like the one he is painting now taking up to four days to finish.rn

rnBut its not easy to sell traditional handcrafts like these at the same rate they are made.rn

rnSince he moved into the Sigiriya handicraft village, sales have picked-up.rn

rnTwenty craftsmen like Devendra make dozens of leather, brass, cloth and wooden items as the Sigiriya handicraft village.rn

rnThe National Craft Council and Design Center that initiated the project say one aim was to provide a stable income to skilled craftsmen through better infrastructure and market ac