Revival of Sri Lankan Handicrafts: Identifying Challenges through Collaboration for Sustainability.

Abstract

Traditional craft industries throughout Sri Lanka face sustainability challenges, including a decline in the prominence of the craft industry, sourcing difficulties for raw materials, a dwindling supply of young artisans, and inconsistent awareness of technological tools. The theory of collaborative advantage (TCA) principles and strategies within Sri Lankan craft manufacturing will be evaluated for their potential to enhance heritage preservation while optimizing resource utilization and creating market opportunities in sustainable global business operations. Semi-structured interviews were administered to artisans in crucial areas for qualitative research analysis. The analysis of twelve themes from interviewed data included common aims, work processes, communication, and resource constraints using MAXQDA software for coding and thematic analysis. Research outcomes identify TCA solutions for digital platforms, skills development initiatives, and strategic marketplace connections that drive beneficial sustainability improvements. Supply chain members can enhance their market accessibility through collaborative marketing efforts, whereas shared resources decrease pricing to increase profitability. Digital tools enable streamlined communication and management within the supply chain framework. The results show that TCA allows sustainable development of the craft industry through effective cultural coordination alongside environmental and economic targets. The generated outcome will provide industry leaders and policymakers with better methods to align theoretical frameworks with practical sustainability strategies in transitioning global economy towards sustainability.