The Sri Lankan’s handloom sector is ‘seeing good days’ following many governmental initiatives to revive the sector. Many Lankan handloom makers are reaping good profits, says the minister of industry and commerce Rishad Bathiudeen. The handloom sector in Sri Lanka faced a slow decline since 1990s, and the government initiated several measures to successfully revived the sector.

The Minister said currently, all handloom products made in Sri Lanka are selling at a quick pace and despite this, the sector is unable to meet the growing demand. Most sales are from domestic buyers and the remaining revenue comes from sale to tourists. Most Lankan handloom makers are in the East. Among other leading provinces for handlooms are Central and Southern parts. The government plans to improve the country’s handloom sector and his Ministry strives towards promoting this sector and also supports handloom makers.

The Minister further pointed out that 70 per cent of handloom makers are women and therefore strengthening this sector is a way to empower rural women. This sector is also a contributor to government's self-employment creation plans.

Revealing the strategy, he said that the handlooms makers use high quality colourful yarn for their produce which are expensive. Therefore, the Ministry is working on a project to make low cost dyes for the handloom sector by establishing a handloom dye and colour centre using latest technology, in the North Central Province. The Minister was grateful to the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology in Salem for training about 35 Sri Lankan handloom craftsmen who were also introduced to new market trends.