History has played a significant role in Sri Lanka. It has a written history of over 2500 years. Archeological evidence says it has had settlements of prehistoric people as far back as 125,000 or more years ago, and these people used handcrafted tools in their daily lives. Therefore, Sri Lanka has an ancient heritage of creating crafts. Making of crafts has been an ancient art form applied to all most all spheres of the daily lives of the people. Thus, the royalty, kings and queens, who were the traditional patrons of crafts bestowed upon talented craftsperson, grants of state land, and other privileges. This tradition continues to date with the President of the country, doing likewise.
Every traveller who walks through the Bandaranaike International Airport, whether entering or leaving the country, is bombarded with posters, pottery, and ornaments of Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage. Carved elephants made of wood and stone, batik and traditional handloom Sarees , hand-dyed clothes, brass and silver ornaments… These handicraft items are a apart of representing the “Sri Lanka” identity that is trying to be sold. Craft is how we communicate our culture and our culture is captured in our craft. But, as we churn out our “culture” through these crafts, what is happening to the craft-makers themselves after the deadly war in the Country?
The war affected Sri Lanka’s male and especially female business owners. They did not choose to become business owners; rather, the conflict forced them to do so in order to provide for their families and themselves. They saw business as a means to an end after losing their husbands and/or children in the war, and the majority of them were starting out in company for the first time. Their success in the venture is balancing family and work. These women had a basic education and worked in industries like livestock farming, services, and craft and textiles that did not demand a significant investment in capital or specialized understanding of the industry. The international community is still attempting to contribute positively to the reconstruction of a post-war Sri Lanka, despite the fact that attention has partially shifted elsewhere. The existence of long and short-term development initiatives in Sri Lanka is harder to ascertain. How will the people, especially the women, begin a new life and achieve self-sufficiency? Sri Lanka’s female entrepreneurs are a major driver behind the nation’s economic growth. There are various study’s with conclusions that show the first generation women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka’s conflict zones who improve their socioeconomic standing of the country.
The 30-year civil war in Sri Lanka has complicated the region’s gender relations by highlighting the disadvantages already faced by women, in addition to the sociopolitical environment already in place. Similar to their sisters in South Asia and other regions of the country, women in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province face structural inequities and gender-based discrimination in every area of their life. Women’s experiences with discrimination and social standing differ depending on how their other identities, such as class, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, caste, and marital status, overlap.
For the purpose of this analysis, a female-headed household is defined by the International Labor Organization as “households where no adult males are present, due to divorce, separation, relocation, non-marriage, or widowhood, or where men, even though present, do not add value to the household income.” Instead, in this analysis, women who head this particular type of household will be referred to as female heads of households. It has also changed both their good and negative positions, men and women’s relationships with one another, and the duties and responsibilities that women face. One of the most significant repercussions of the war is the increase in female-headed households (FHH) in the North. The potential effects of important components of women’s life, such as previous sociocultural norms, gender barriers, access to resources, mobility, etc., on women’s job outcomes in the post-war era have never been examined or discussed. Furthermore, it’s still uncertain whether the war has extended or diminished gender disparities within communities. A small number of studies have also looked at whether initiatives in the current political environment have altered gender relations, decreased gender inequities, or introduced new, different challenges for women.
In Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern provinces, that have been severely affected by the civil war and the atrocities made by the LTTE up to 2009, the eradication of poverty and the development of sustainable livelihoods were urgent challenges previously. However, today the government began initiatives to focus its efforts in support of those initiatives on the importance of reviving traditional textile products and women’s handicrafts that were passed on from generation to surviving women as a potential means by which they could rebuild their livelihoods and contribute to the long-term building of peace. Numerous initiatives were taken out in conjunction with NGO’s and private organizations, including the IRCI and the Sri Lankan government, to revitalize these handicrafts. For instance, the project’s International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (IRCI) held workshops and field surveys, and IRCI had numerous conversations with representatives of Sri Lanka’s craftswomen and government agencies. Furthermore, recommendations for reviving crafts were provided. Additionally, during the course of a two-year period, IRCI invited experts, government officials, and academics to Japan for in-depth discussions on the suggestions. Largely, these partners and the government institutions are now identifying the challenges that must be overcome in order to revitalize these handicrafts.
It is vial for the government to Strategically rise in a favorable manner to suit many global value chains due to its strategic location. Although it has made significant infrastructure investments in the past, its involvement in the global value chain is modest. 73.8% of Sri Lanka’s exports were direct in 2020, which was lower than the average of 66.9% for South Asia and 53.5% for Southeast Asia (Five Ways to Connect Sri Lanka’s Small Businesses to Global Value, n.d.) to link or relink Sri Lanka to global value chains, action is required. If this procedure is successful, there will be an increase in local employment possibilities and stable inflows of foreign currency. The beneficial spillover effects will gradually increase the overall.
Most countries that have experienced conflict and bloodshed, the LTTE left a large scar and tore a great rift on the social fabric led the country to seek development for a sustainable stability and peace through the ongoing transmission of traditional culture by the local population. This was planned to be done through the purpose of reviving and restoring the real cultural identity of Sri Lanka. Due to the disproportionate amount of childcare that women are required to provide since the post war decade, some may be excluded from political participation, economic prospects, educational opportunities, and peace processes; however, the government is currently making every effort to create a prosperous country for women and encourage them to reach to better standards. The government is also well aware of the presently and ongoing continued budgetary constraints and takes active measures to prevent further physical and emotional tiredness if the burden of household care tasks. The demands placed on Sri Lankan women in terms of their responsibilities as “respectable” mothers and wives as well as their symbolic role as guardians of the nation’s culture are changing, and more women are being encouraged to advance in their academic and professional endeavors. The post-war struggles the LTTE caused in the north and east of Sri Lanka, along with the diaspora community’s propaganda campaign, continue to creep and undervalue the great initiatives carried out by the government of Sri Lanka in the reconciliation process, making it impossible for the government to secure funding for initiatives to alleviate the crisis.
Despite all the challenges and struggles of the the post war situation and chaos the LTTE had made, Sri Lanka transformed and is currently a thriving e-commerce and online social networking economy, with consumer preferences that favor ethical and ecologically friendly products, and more. Additionally, the Government and non-governmental groups with the support of institutions and local organizations are active in this area and have a big impact on the potential outcomes. A more comprehensive strategy introduced by the government towards enhancing the handicrafts economy, and the welfare of the craftspeople, has been ultimate goal for the nation in a collective and united effort to re-building the nation. The government is prompting its cultural heritage items without any discrimination to flourish and gain economic benefit and heal the broken hearts and ensure a therapeutic healing process is carried out by allowing the victims and affected community of the war to engage in the transformative process of Sri Lanka.
Reference
Anon, (n.d.). National Crafts Council. [online] Available at: http://craftscouncil.gov.lk/about-us/ [Accessed 28 Nov. 2022].
Chen Chen, S.M. (n.d.). Five Ways to Connect Sri Lanka’s Small Businesses to Global Value Chains. [online] blogs.adb.org. Available at: https://blogs.adb.org/blog/five-ways-connect-sri-lanka-s-small-businesses-global-value-chains.
Das, B. and Jariya Inun, A.M. (2011). Promoting the first generation women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka: a lesson from India. [online] ir.lib.seu.ac.lk. South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. Available at: http://ir.lib.seu.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1137 [Accessed 28 Nov. 2022].
Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium 2011 on Post-War Economic Development through Science, Technology and Management, p. 5
International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO. (n.d.). Research for Endangered Traditional Handicrafts in Post-Conflict States (Sri Lanka) (FY 2013 – FY 2015). [online] Available at: https://www.irci.jp/research/conflict/2013srilanka/ [Accessed 28 Nov. 2022].
Thanks for the great tips!