Pottery workers in Mannar district of Northern Province are hugely affected by the travel ban imposed due to the Covid-19 in Sri Lanka.
The areas Madukkarai, Karukkakulam and Chemman Theevu are known for pottery works in Mannar. So, people in these areas are entirely dependent on the earnings from pottery work.
Due to the lockdown, pottery items such as pan pots and clay stoves made in the above villages cannot be transported to other districts. Meanwhile, people from other districts are also restricted to visit Mannar.
The educational future of their children is also in question. The pottery workers have expressed concern that the pottery industry is likely to disappear in the Mannar district in the future.