Topic > Craft Practices in the Sri Lankan Context

Ancient Sri Lanka had the potential to meet all the daily needs of the people within the country. So Sri Lanka has a long legacy of artisanal practices. According to (Senanayake, 2013) these practices have passed in families from generation to generation for years and have reduced with foreign trade, invasions and colonization in Sri Lanka. Some crafts are still passed down from generation to generation and some families are still engaged in those indigenous production methods of handmade lifestyle products using local natural raw materials and age-old techniques. These practiced professions have contributed to creating economic values ​​within the country. Practices that have cultural significance and last a long time are commonly known as traditional crafts. What is today identified as traditional craftsmanship must once have been an evolving skill practice. There must have been a time when skilled manual workers made innovations in their practices. Tremendous advances within the practice are needed for some traditional crafts to currently be identified as extraordinary creations. The practice was creative and the artisans; the skilled workers were the designers within that practice. (Senanayake, 2013) Handloom products, dumbara weaving, pethampili, brass products, cane and bamboo products, mask making, lacquer work, rattan products and cane, palm products and wood carvings are some of the traditional craft practices practiced for centuries within the county. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay As well as traditional craft practices passed down from generation to generation. Some communities have been practicing crafts such as knitting, crochet and macram for many years in the Sri Lankan context. Such techniques can also be identified as artisanal practices carried out in the local context. Few professions in local practice are directly combined with the fashion industry. (Senanayake, 2013) Handloom, Umbara textile weaving, petampili, beeralu, tatting, crochet and knitting are some basic textile craft techniques practiced in the Sri Lankan context. At present, several artisan communities are spread across the Sri Lankan context and practice as cottage industries. These communities are recognized by the craftsmanship in which they are engaged. These intrinsic handicraft products are replaced by machine-made products as an impact of industrialization. Another problem is that artisans have to compete with products from all over the world. Because the open economy pushes customers to buy cheap imported goods rather than local goods. On the other hand, people are not aware of the real value of basic artisan products and this has led to neglect of local crafts. If the value is known to customers, they will tend to pay higher amounts for the real value of the product. Craftsmen moved to cities in search of higher incomes rather than the lowest income for higher craftsmanship. Therefore, unskilled employment remains within the scope of artisanal practices. It's difficult to reach new markets. As a result, these artisanal practices are declining from the country. The local market, the export market and tourism are just the sales channels that craftsmanship is targeting in the current context. The government is also trying to promote and develop the collaboration of local crafts with the Ministry of Small Business Development,.