News
Improvement in garment sector orders in first two months of 2024, but still to see 2022 volumes
By Saman Indrajith
The apparel sector has received more orders in the first two months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, Deputy Chairman of Joint Apparel Association Forum Sri Lanka (JAAF) Felix Fernando said.
However, one must not forget that last year was a particularly bad year for the sector, he said. “We are still not seeing the volumes we did in 2022. We hope things will improve in the coming months.”
Fernando said 2023 was a bad year for the entire export sector, mainly due to external problems. The war in Ukraine adversely affected the economies in the European Union and there was a drop in the purchasing power of people living in the US and the EU.
“In general, the US imported 22 percent less apparel from across the world. This was about 10 percent in EU countries. We got less orders because of this and a lot of factories reduced working hours and some operated only a few days of the week. This year there is a positive development and factories that focus on some categories have got more orders. Some clients, who used to work only in Bangladesh, have come to Sri Lanka to reduce the risk of importing from one location.”
He added that the demand for items, like underwear, and active wear, has increased.
Fernando said there isn’t a big difference in the production cost of apparel between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. A few months ago, Bangladeshi manufacturers had to increase the salaries of their workers significantly.
“One of the conditions of GSP+ is that the fabric we use for garments must come from Sri Lanka, another SAARC country or an EU country. The quality of fabrics produced in India and Pakistan are low. For high quality material at low cost, most people go to China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, or Korea. People feel that it is better to get good quality cheap fabrics from the countries I mentioned than trying to adhere to the conditions I stated. Because of that we only use about 60 percent of the quota given by GSP + concessions,” he said.
Fernando went on to say that one of the main problems they face is the policy uncertainty that prevails in the country and the lethargy the State has shown to ensure market access for Sri Lankan businesses. In the long term the industry must look at enhancing productivity and enhancing the quality of labour.
“We are not a country with a lot of people. So, how do we attract new people to work in the industry? A lot of workers left the country in the last two years to work in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. We must create an environment that’s conducive to their return.”
Fernando said the rupee has appreciated against the dollar in the past few months. However, the cost of living has not gone down and a stronger rupee is bad for exporters.
“We have spoken to senior government officials about our concerns. I think they, especially the Governor of the Central bank, are aware of this. This is why the Central Bank is buying dollars from the market. The appreciation of the rupee is good if the cost of living goes down. If the price for food, transport, etc., goes down, our costs will also go down. However, these costs have not gone down,” he said.
Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal deep sea areas
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 05.00 p.m. 18 September 2026, valid for the next 24 hours.
PLEASE BE AWARE!
The atmospheric disturbance to the North of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, is likely to develop into a low pressure area within the next 24 hours.
Due to its influence, wind speed over the Bay of Bengal sea areas will increase during the next few days starting from
tomorrow (19th).
The wind speed in the sea areas marked under the “Advisory” category on the map below will increase to 55-65 kmph at times and those sea areas will be rough or very rough at times.
Navel and fishing communities engaging the activities over this sea area are advised to be vigilant and be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the department of Meteorology in this regards.
Text and Pic by Priyan de Silva
Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) Ranga Dissanayake has questioned whether some promises contained in the National People’s Power (NPP) manifesto, A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life, could be fulfilled even if the government wanted to implement them.
Dissanayake raised the issue during a discussion following the release of the third biannual report on manifesto monitoring by the March 12 Movement, at the BMICH, on Wednesday.
He questioned whether the report had taken into account legal and institutional constraints affecting the implementation of certain pledges.
Citing the proposal to establish Anti-Corruption Investigation Offices in each district, Dissanayake said such offices could be established only with the agreement of CIABOC and that amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act would be necessary.
He also referred to the pledge to abolish the Executive Presidency, noting that successive governments had made similar commitments since 1994. He questioned whether there had been adequate consideration of where the powers vested in the Executive President would be transferred if the system were abolished.
On the proposal to establish a Public Prosecutor, Dissanayake questioned whether the Government intended to maintain the office alongside the Attorney General, who currently performs prosecution-related functions.
Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake said Dissanayake’s remarks should be regarded as his personal views and not as Government policy.
Monitoring and Evaluation Consultants M. Thilakarajah and D.D. Mataharaarachchi presented the third-phase findings, covering January to June 2026.
The corruption case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former Navy Commander, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, and Yoshitha Rajapaksa was set for a pre-trial conference by the Colombo High Court.
The case was taken up before the Colombo High Court on Thursday (17), when the accused, who are currently out on bail, appeared before the court. After considering the submissions made, the court ordered that the case be called for a pre-trial conference.
The CIABOC had filed the case against the accused, alleging that a corruption offence was committed by sending Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, for training at the Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom despite him not having the required qualifications.
Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for Multi-day boats in the Bay of Bengal
Showers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya Districts
Some NPP manifesto promises may be difficult to fulfil – CIABOC DG
Yoshitha and ex-Navy chief Karannagoda’s case fixed for PTC
Court orders probe into Wimal’s rally speech
Court to rule on Dilith’s writ petition on September 30
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News6 days agoGnanasara Thero absconding after SC ruling
-
Opinion5 days agoFrom Galkissa (Mount Lavinia) to Tambuttegama
-
Business6 days agoHNB Finance strengthens Board with four independent directors
-
News2 days agoUS embassy won’t comment on IGP’s probe into joint drug raid
-
Sports6 days agoCulture within cricket team worrying authorities
-
Features5 days agoSri Lanka’s university crisis: Brain drain and union action demand urgent reform
-
Features4 days agoThe emptying university: why are academics leaving?
-
News6 days agoHouse to debate 22A, Judicature Bill next week