State owned gifts and souvenir shop ‘Laksala’ has earned a revenue of Rs. 381 million from January up to August this year.
Laksala, Chairman Rushan Marambage told Sunday Observer Business that 60% of the profits were from sales made to foreign visitors.
The Chairman said in August alone this year Laksala recorded a revenue of Rs. 18 million due to the arrival of a large number of foreign visitors.
Chairman Marambage predicted that with the arrival of a large number of foreign visitors Laksala could exceed the 2023 revenue target of Rs. 550 million before December.
“We can also expect a net profit of Rs. 100 million before the end of this year.”
He said that Laksala is expected to pay around Rs. 250 million to local craftsmen for supplying handicraft items to Laksala this year.
During the last six decades `Laksala’ which comes under the Sri Lanka Handicrafts Board (SLHB) too paid large amounts to local craftsmen.
The Chairman said that every year Laksala also provides 10% from the profit to the Treasury.
Laksala also thanked Sri Lanka Tourism for taking steps to bring foreign visitors to Laksala when cruise ships anchor in Colombo.
The last cruise which arrived at Colombo Port also brought over 1700 passengers and over 800 of them visited the Laksala main exhibition centre in Colombo to buy traditional items including locally made apparel, batiks, souvenirs and other handloom products.
Chairman Marambage further said Laksala recently had a discussion with the Sri Lanka Tour Guides Association and requested them to bring tour groups to all Laksala exhibition centres countrywide.
He said the discussion was very successful and accordingly they assured that they would bring foreign tourists who are visiting the country not only by air but also from ship cruise.
He said the Katunayaka International Airport Laksala outlet too brings in high revenue.
Laksala was opened in 1960 by the then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike with the sole objective of popularising local handicrafts in foreign countries and also to give a helping hand to local craftsmen.
Laksala has ten showrooms including Thunmulla Junction, Colombo 7, Colombo Fort, Apegama premises in Battaramulla, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, Kandy, Moratuwa, Galle and Pinnawala.
