An Indian Handicrafts Exhibition was organized in Colombo by the High Commission of India and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage, Government of Sri Lanka, to commemorate the Republic Day of India 2006. The exhibition was jointly inaugurated on the 25th January, 2006, by the Hon'ble Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Minister for Cultural Affairs & National Heritage and H.E. Smt. Nirupama Rao, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka. The exhibition showcased the skills of Indian craftpersons and the wealth of handicrafts from different states of India. Selected crafts of Jammu and Kashmir, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and other States of India were on sale. A highlight of this exhibition was the live demonstration by Indian craftpersons of leather embroidery from Bhuj, Gujarat, the famous chikan embroidery from Uttar Pradesh, wood carving from Rajasthan, papier mache from Jammu and Kashmir and cane and bamboo work from Assam. Large consignments of handicrafts were on sale. The exhibition had been sponsored by the Office of the Development Commissioner of Handicrafts in India. Admission to this exhibition was open to all free of charge.