Sri Lanka, Feb. 20 -- Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana yesterday laid the foundation stone for the construction of new Laksala showroom called "Laksala - Ella" at the Ella railway station which will be implemented as a joint project by Sri Lanka Railways and Sri Lanka Handicrafts Board.

It will be constructed under the financial provisions of Laksala and the ground floor will be equipped with a public car park and the first floor will be constructed as the Laksala showroom in a manner suitable for tourism in the area. This will create a new market for local handicraftsmen and home-based self-employed designers in the area.

It is also planned to allocate a special space to the creations of handicraftsm...