Sri Lanka’s first plastic alternatives centre boosts artisan livelihoods in Sigiriya
Sri Lanka’s first Plastic Alternatives and Craft Experience Centre, established by the ZeroPlastic Movement near Sigiriya, has completed its first tourism season, demonstrating how sustainable tourism can create new income opportunities for traditional artisans while promoting environmental conservation.
Located at Rotawewa on the Sigiriya Road, the centre offers visitors a hands-on experience rather than a conventional souvenir shopping stop. Tourists are invited to participate in guided workshops on bamboo and coconut shell crafting conducted by local artisans, allowing them to create and take home their own handcrafted items.
The initiative also encourages visitors to take the ZeroPlastic Traveler Pledge, committing to avoid unnecessary single-use plastics, support environmentally responsible tourism operators and inspire others to adopt sustainable travel practices. Participants receive a traditional mask made from recycled plastic bottle caps collected during community clean-up campaigns in the Sigiriya area, highlighting the growing challenge of plastic pollution.
The project was launched with a USD 50,000 Impact Grant from the Intrepid Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Intrepid Travel, which has also incorporated the centre into its Sri Lanka travel itineraries. Colombo-based strategic communications firm is supporting the initiative’s advocacy and public awareness efforts.
Beyond the visitor experience, the centre has created a market for traditional handicrafts produced by more than 100 artisan families across Sri Lanka. Many of these communities, specialising in bamboo, cane, reed and natural fibre products, have struggled for years as inexpensive plastic alternatives replaced traditional goods.
Source: Daily News
