Bandaranayake, Padmini D. creator Wickramanayake, B.W.E. Chairperson Demaine, Harvey Examination Committee Routray, Jayant Kumar Examination Committee Der Deutsche Akadernische Austauschdienst ( DAAD) , German Academic Exchange Service Scholarship Donor text th Bangkok Asian Institute of Technology 1989 monographic eng

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98 p. There is a growing realization that rural industries are an important part of the industrialization process and in the economy of developing countries. Hence, governments in developing countries are taking policy measures and formulating strategies to · promote rural industries . In Sri Lanka, after the change in government in 1977, there has been changes in national development policies which are believed to have affected rural industries positively as well a s negatively. In this research we looked at the changes that have taken place in handloom textile industry by taking Kurunegala District (out of 25 districts > as a sample. In terms of importance, handloom textiles have been the most important activity among rural industries in the country, with a remarkable growth specially during the period of 1970-1977 with a controlled situation. But all these changed with the Trade Liberalization Programme in 1977. The most specific feature was that, the import of textiles increased drastically from 20 million metres in 1977 to 96 million metres in the 1978/79 period. This created a strong competition for the handloom products which also led to marketing problems. As such, with the competition of imported textiles there has been a rapid decline in the industry, resulting a decrease in the employment too. As People's Bank estimates 40, ODO jobs were lost in handloom sector alone and some think this figure too is an underestimate . This study which lend support to this shows that, in the Kurunegala District there were only 26 handloom units by April 1989, compared with the 214 units which were there before 1977. The number of weavers attached to these centres before 1977 were 5586 , but by April 1989 the number had reduced to 329. This shows the drastic reduction of employment opportunities for women in this industry. Theoretically it is expected that certain adjustments are required during a stabilization programme. In that process movement of labour from less productive sectors to more productive sectors is expected to take place. This is possible only if' employment opportunities in more productive sectors increase and if the new requirements can be met by those who get displaced. The experience in the economy of Sri Lanka and in the handloom textile industry shows that this process is not taking place as expected and as a result the adjustment process is a painful one for the rural women. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the a ward of the Degree of Master of Science Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1989 Women Employment Sri Lanka Handloom industry Sri Lanka Asian Institute of Technology. http://203.159.5.9/ait-thesis/detail.php?q=B18088 http://203.159.5.9/ait-thesis/detail.php?q=B18088 260898 20260817172444.0