For many years Sri Lankans have engaged in a variety of hand crafted products to earn a living. Among them are clay products, weaving, the coir industry and wood crafting among others. Apart from these products Sri Lankans also use various parts of trees and creepers to turn out unique and unusual products.
“In the Hanwella Pradeshiya Secretariat area in the Colombo district in Kosgama is a group of people who make a living ”
In the Hanwella Pradeshiya Secretariat area in the Colombo district in Kosgama is a group of people who make a living by turning out beautiful products of animals by using the tender coconut. Elephants, elephant families, monkeys, rabbits and turtle among others are made and sold to foreigners who love these products.
This industry cannot be done in areas where there are no coconut trees. In the Kosgama area you cannot find many coconut trees. Those who engage in this industry have to go in search of the tender coconuts. When there are no tender coconuts the coconut has to be skinned up to the husk and the insides removed without any harm to the coconut. This is a very difficult job.
Once the animals are cut into different shapes they are cleaned with sand paper. Natural seeds such as olinda and madatiya seeds are used for the Rabbits and monkeys. When natural products are not available buttons are used instead.
The shapes of animals that are cut from the raw coconut are kept in the sun for a couple of days to dry. If not kept in the sun after a few days the products get covered with pus and black spots. When these products get into this state they cannot be kept for too long. The beauty of the product is lost. It is important to keep the products in the sun and dry them well.
These products are sold in Colombo and Galle where there are tourists and places like Laksala. Some people sell these products by the roadside in the town. However sadly the sellers cannot get a good price for their products.
If there is a good market for these products and the sellers get a good price for their products the industry can be developed further.
