Weaving woes
The cane industry is now in dire straits due to low demand
Traditional cane craftsmen in Wanathawilluwa in the Puttalam District, and those who sold them in the aptly named Weweldeniya in the Gampaha District are battling for survival due to a shortage of raw material and low demand for their products in the market.
The people from these areas created unique items from cane before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Transforming the cane into furniture and many other products has been an art passed down through generations.
But now, the cane industry is gradually dwindling as people have lost interest and are switching to better prospects elsewhere.
Highlighting the plight of the cane industry, craftsmen lament that in the absence of any support from the government the industry will soon collapse altogether.
Cane weaving provides livelihoods to around 100 families in Ral Maduwa, Aluth Eluwankulama and Parana Eluwankulama.
Previously, craftsmen faced difficulties finding cane, or procuring raw materials located closer to their residential areas. At that point, Divisional Secretariat Chathuraka Jayasinghe allocated 50 acres of land for the craftsmen. This provided a partial solution, but the expected demand was not seen.
DS Chathuraka Jayasinghe said, “As requested by the producers, we solved the raw materials problem by allocating separate land for them. Now due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shrinking incomes they are seeing a loss of demand for their products in the market. We will try to create a potential market so that they can sell their products.”