Sri Lanka, June 26 -- With the world textile industry closing on USD 8 billion, a big opportunity exists for Lanka's traditional textile industry with ingredients to uplift the industry falling in place with skilled artisans, ministry involvement and universities collaborating in developing the industry, Chaturange Abeysinghe, Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development told the Art of Weaving Workshop, fashion showcase and technical publication launch held in Colombo yesterday.

"Now we need another single piece, which is investment. We will have to collectively pitch and find investors for this industry who see commercial value in this," he said.

Abeysinghe said the Department of Textile Industries was to be closed. ...