Overlooked crafts « Arugam Bay Information

Text and pix by D Gnanasiri Hettiarachchige

A group of women in Panama village in the Lahugala Divisional Secretariat Division are self-employed producing items from Palmyra leaves. They are urging authorities to create a conducive environment for them to sell their products.

About 30 women are engaged in making various products from Palmyra leaves including traveling bags, lady’s handbags, baskets, table mats, hats, flowers, lanterns and vases.

All these products are hand-made and with no machinery involved in the production process.

The women are from low-income families whose main occupation is either fishing or farming. They say they face immense difficulties in both selling their products and obtaining a fair price for them.

They have been able to send some of their products to be sold on the international market via intermediaries. The women have also won awards at provincial level along with presidential awards.

The sales outlet where the women sell their products is located about 150 metres in from the Arugam Bay-Kumana Road. As such, while many foreign tourists pass through the area on their way to Arugam Bay, many don’t see the outlet. The women urge authorities to intervene to set up a sales outlet for them nearer to the main road.