News

Improvement in garment sector orders in first two months of 2024, but still to see 2022 volumes

Published

2 years ago

2024/05/4

Thilina Walpola

Felix Fernando

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.

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Record 1,600 students take Russian Classical Ballet examination in Sri Lanka

Published

2 hours ago

2026/10/18

Priyan

More than 1,600 students sat this year’s Russian Classical Ballet Examination, the largest number ever to take part in the examination in Sri Lanka. Exams were held in Colombo from 5, to 18, October and in Galle on 10 October.

Students aged four and above came from across the island, including Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Negombo, Matara, Kelaniya, Panadura, Wattala, Kiribathgoda, Ratnapura, Kandy, Kurunegala, Bandarawela and Badulla. They are taught by 15 dedicated teachers trained in the Vaganova method, the renowned Russian system of classical ballet training.

They were examined by Dr. Oxana Karnovich of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, a distinguished academic and curator.

The Russian School of Ballet and Dancing was established in 2001 by Michael Ustinov, Buddhapriya Ramanayake and Mrs Chandi Aluvihare, with Mrs Galina Pleshakova as its founding instructor. Today the School is led by Director Madam Maria Popova, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka.

News

Buddhist hierarchy demands prison perks for monk convicts

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/18

Thilina Walpola

MONETABRIEF– Sri Lanka’s two most senior Buddhist chapters, Malwatte and Asgiriya, demanded special concessions for monks serving prison sentences, following the disrobing of convicted monk Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara in line with established procedures.

The chief prelate of the Asgiriya chapter, Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana, told Prisons Commissioner Senaka Palletenna that Ven. Gnanasara, who is serving a six-year sentence for contempt of court, must be released immediately.

Prison authorities have no power to release or pardon convicts, but Palletenna told the monk in Kandy on Friday that he would convey his request to the relevant government authorities.

“There is no point in talking about this and that… The entire country has been shaken (??????? ) . He must be released,” the Asgiriya chief prelate said.

The Malwatte chief prelate, Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala, appeared to accept the court verdict against Ven. Gnanasara, but asked the prisons chief whether a separate section could be established for convicted monks.

Palletenna noted that a special ward for the clergy already existed at Welikada Prison.

At least 63 convicted Buddhist monks are currently incarcerated within Sri Lanka’s criminal justice system.

Meanwhile, a group of 34 Buddhist monks named in a Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court order to vacate the vicinity of the Presidential Secretariat ended their protest and dispersed after lunch on Friday.The monks are demanding an unconditional pardon for Ven. Gnanasara, who has previously been imprisoned, making him a reconvicted prisoner.

News

Debate on NCM against Speaker postponed indefinitely

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/18

Thilina Walpola

The debate on the no-confidence motion against Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, submitted by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been postponed indefinitely pending the Attorney General’s opinion on certain technical issues in the motion.

Government representatives raised the matter at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business, pointing out that several provisions of the motion required clarification and that the Attorney General’s advice should be obtained.

As obtaining the opinion would take time, the debate could not be scheduled for the next parliamentary week, parliamentary sources said.

Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilaka said a date for the debate would be decided after the Attorney General’s advice was received.

Meanwhile, Parliament is scheduled to meet from October 20 to 23, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera announced.

The parliamentary business for the week was finalised at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held on Friday (16) under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih.

On each sitting day, the period from 9.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. will be allocated for parliamentary business under Items 1 to 6 of Standing Order 22. Questions for Oral Answers will be taken up from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by questions under Standing Order 27(2) from 11 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

On Tuesday, October 20, an Opposition-sponsored Adjournment Motion will be debated from 11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Wednesday, October 21, a resolution under the Public Debt Management Act and a Supplementary Estimate will be taken up for debate and approval from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The annual reports of five statutory institutions will subsequently be presented for approval without debate, while questions at the Adjournment Time will be taken up from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Thursday, October 22, the Second Reading debates on two Bills to amend the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Bills Nos. 79 and 80) will be held from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The annual reports of five statutory institutions will then be taken up for approval without debate, followed by an Opposition-sponsored Adjournment Motion from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Friday, October 23, the Second Reading debate on the Elimination of Rabies and Registration of Dogs Bill will be held from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Government-sponsored Adjournment Motion will be debated during the final half-hour of the sitting.