India’s rapid rise as a global manufacturing hub and consumer market is reshaping South Asia’s apparel landscape, creating both urgency and opportunity for Sri Lanka to reposition itself through deeper regional integration, Acting Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Dr. Satyanjal Pandey said recently at the Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) Annual General Meeting in Colombo.

Addressing industry leaders at Cinnamon Life, Dr. Pandey said the next phase of growth in South Asian apparel will be driven not by competition within the region, but by collaboration across it, particularly between India and Sri Lanka.

“India and Sri Lanka bring very different but highly complementary strengths, he said. “India offers scale, raw materials, a vast labour pool and a rapidly expanding domestic market. Sri Lanka brings world-class manufacturing standards, compliance, speed, flexibility and trusted relationships with premium global brands. Together, these strengths can create globally competitive regional value chains.”

Dr. Pandey revealed that India had concluded a major trade agreement with the European Union earlier in the day, granting tariff-free access across more than 9,000 product lines, including apparel, with tariffs reduced from 12 percent to zero.

The agreement, he noted, reinforces India’s growing centrality in global trade and underscores the need for Sri Lanka to move swiftly in aligning its trade and investment strategies with regional developments.

He stressed that India’s objective is not to displace Sri Lankan apparel producers, but to grow together in an increasingly complex global market where buyers are demanding resilience, sustainability and regional diversification.

India today is one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, with a large and youthful population, expanding middle class and rising apparel consumption. For Sri Lankan manufacturers, this presents opportunities not only as a sourcing partner, but also as an export destination for value-added apparel, technical textiles and sustainable fashion.

Against this evolving landscape, Sri Lankan industry leaders highlighted the urgency of aligning domestic policy and regulatory frameworks with India’s accelerating trade momentum.

Sri Lanka Exporters Association chairperson Ms. Rajitha Jayasuriya said global regulatory compliance has become a prerequisite for market access, particularly in Europe.

She pointed to the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), enhanced traceability requirements and Digital Product Passports (DPPs) as measures that will increasingly shape trade flows.

“These are no longer optional standards. They are a licence to operate, she said, adding that Sri Lanka must urgently build national support systems to help SMEs and supply chain compliance through transparency, sustainable materials and robust data systems.

Jayasuriya warned that failure to secure the renewal of Sri Lanka’s GSP Plus facility would further weaken competitiveness, especially as India strengthens its trade position with the EU.

“With India moving ahead rapidly, Sri Lanka must mobilise faster to protect preferential access and avoid erosion of market share, she said.

India also featured prominently in the industry’s forward-looking trade agenda.

Jayasuriya said priorities for 2026 include securing quota-free access to the Indian market, ensuring predictable trade flows and deepening Sri Lanka’s integration into India-centric regional value chains.

“A stronger India–Sri Lanka apparel corridor is not just an economic opportunity; it is a strategic imperative, she said.

Policy reform at home was identified as a critical enabler of regional integration.

Jayasuriya called for accelerated digital reforms, including the introduction of a fully fiscalised e-invoicing system for exporters, to improve liquidity, compliance and transparency.

She noted that countries such as India have already moved ahead in this area, strengthening their competitiveness.

The apparel industry’s performance in 2025, she said, demonstrated what is possible when factory-level resilience is matched by responsive policymaking. However, she cautioned that regional competitors such as Cambodia, Vietnam and Bangladesh continue to move aggressively on scale, automation and trade agreements.

By Ifham Nizam

Advice Lab, a leading provider of financial services BPO solutions to the Australian market, announced the opening of its new 13,000+ square‑foot office in Colombo, one of the most modern and dynamic workspaces in Sri Lanka. The move marks a significant milestone in the company’s rapid growth as a BPO and highlights its ongoing commitment to creating valuable job opportunities across Sri Lanka’s professional workforce.

The state‑of‑the‑art facility has been thoughtfully designed to support the company’s expanding operations and its growing portfolio of Australian financial advisers, accountants, and mortgage professionals. Purpose‑built for scale and efficiency, the workspace accommodates larger teams and advanced technology infrastructure while prioritizing employee well‑being and productivity. This emphasis on a people‑first culture is reflected in the inspiring, comfortable, and energizing environment created throughout the new office.

Seylan Bank recently celebrated Thai Pongal with a vibrant and delightful ceremony. The event, hosted at Seylan Tower, honoured the diversity and inclusivity that embody the values of the Bank with a Heart. With customers and families from across the branches in attendance, the event celebrated the festival with a cultural show, including traditional dances and musical performances.

In addition to the main celebration, regional festivities reflecting the spirit of Thai Pongal were also marked across the Bank’s branch network in areas such as Kandy, Batticaloa and Jaffna, reinforcing Seylan’s commitment to inclusive workplace and brand-level celebrations.

Attended by Chairman, Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, Director/CEO, Ramesh Jayasekara, staff, and customers, the event marked the beginning of a new year with well wishes for the multicultural financial entity and its endeavours to provide the best services for its customers. The Thai Pongal celebration greeted the New Year with hope for continued excellence in unlocking potential and empowering customers.

Dedicated to the Sun God, Thai Pongal is a Tamil Hindu harvest festival. Invoking blessings for the present and future, the festivities were accompanied by splashes of vibrant colour and equally delicious sweetmeats.