A program to gather and organize all the batik manufacturers who are currently engaged in the batik production industry in Kegalle district and uplift their industries was held today (08) at the district secretariat auditorium under the chairmanship of the district governor/district secretary Mr. Ranjana Jayasinghe.

Accordingly, the importance of the entrepreneurs engaged in the batik industry in the district working together as a single cooperative society, for the upliftment of the batik industry in the district, including the coordination of raw materials required for batik production, obtaining loans on low interest loan rates, equipping batik artisans with technical knowledge and creating export opportunities. Many issues were discussed here.

Regarding the importance of registration of manufacturing enterprises as cooperative societies, from the Cooperative Department, from the Laksala Institute regarding the purchase of products, from the Sri Lanka Textile and Garment Institute regarding environmentally friendly batik products, from the Central Environment Authority regarding the obstacles to business registration for environmentally friendly batik products, from the Industrial Development Board regarding export opportunities and business registration, information related to obtaining NVQ, RPL qualifications, credit facilities provided by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission and SDB Bank, and new trends in the batik industry, were informed about many things.

In this program jointly organized by the National Enterprise Development Authority and the District Secretariat, a District Batik Cooperative Society was established and officers were appointed to it according to the wishes of all the entrepreneurs.

Additional District Secretary (Lands) Gamalatge Dilip Nishantha, National Enterprise Development Authority Director Dhanuka Liyanagamage, Cooperative Assistant Commissioner S.M.S.K. Samarakoon, Central Environment Authority Deputy Director R.M.S.B. Ratnayake, Industrial Development Board Sabaragamu Provincial Director S.A.G. Senanayake, Senior Technologist Subhani Thevarapperuma, SDB Bank's Cooperative Division Head Mr. Lasantha Edirisuriya, Assistant Director of Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission, Enterprise Development Officers of District and Divisional Secretariats and entrepreneurs were present.