COLOMBO :The ‘Women Plus Bazaar 2023’ exhibition organized for the first time with the aim of empowering Sri Lankan women was declared open by President Ranil Wickremesinghe at Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo Sunday ,April 30).
The exhibition was organized by the Egyptian Embassy in Colombo, the Colombo Municipal Council in association with the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, and the National Crafts Council targeting tourists.
More than 200 stalls of local handicraft manufacturers and female entrepreneurs made up the exhibition. Providing women entrepreneurs more space in the exhibition in order to increase their participation was significant.
The President who declared open the exhibition also visited the stalls and engaged in a cordial discussion with the manufacturers.
President Wickremesinghe instructed the State Minister of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment Mrs. Geetha Kumarasinghe to find a suitable building site for the construction of a trade center in the Galle area to sell such local handicrafts to local and foreign markets.
Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayaka, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt Maged Mosleh, National Crafts Council Chairman Sampath Erahapola, Chairperson of the United National Party’s Lakvanitha Peramuna Shanthini Kongahage and representatives of foreign Embassies and other officials were present on this occasion.
During the closing part of the programme , Environment Minister Naseer Ahamed presented some of the winners among the stall holders.
Minister Ahamed described the event as a successful venture to empower the rural women.
Ambassador Mosleh told Colombo Times that this is a great incentive for young women to engage in businesses of their own . “ We only gave them the platform to market their products made out of their own skills,” the envoy added
