Business
Eco Spindles strengthens Sri Lanka’s circular economy for plastic recycling
Eco Spindles (Private) Limited, Sri Lanka’s largest plastics recycler, has announced plans to expand its capacity to manufacture yarn using recycled plastics, as well as innovative new additions to its suite of cutting-edge, eco-friendly products used by some of the world’s leading fashion brands.
The company owns one of only two plants in the world capable of creating polyester yarn directly from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic flakes. After the completion of the second phase of its yarn plant expansion programme in April 2022, the company expects its capacity to manufacture recycled polyester yarn to increase by 120%, from 100 tonnes of Draw Textured Yarn a month to 220 tonnes a month.
For its third phase of expansion, Eco Spindles is exploring potential opportunities to expand its footprint within or beyond Sri Lanka.
Given that its products, made using recycled PET plastics, are primarily exported, these developments pave the way for the company to generate more export earnings and foreign exchange for Sri Lanka. It also addresses the improper disposal of plastics, one of the world’s biggest environmental issues.
These developments were announced at Eco Spindles’ annual yarn conference held virtually on the 14th February 2022, with the participation of the company’s senior management. During the conference, Eco Spindles also felicitated its top 10 buyers of 2021.
The conference featured keynote addresses from BPPL Holdings PLC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Dr. Anush Amarasinghe, Eco Spindles Yarns CEO – Nalaka Senavirathna and Eco Spindles Yarns Head of Sales – Jerome De Mel. In addition to plans for business improvement, the speakers also shared their insights into the ongoing battle against plastic pollution and offered promising solutions adopted on a national scale with global impact.
“As people who are passionate about the environment, we are painfully aware of the impact plastic materials have on nature since more than 583 billion PET plastic bottles are produced each year with 85% of it going to landfills. We also believe that to resolve this crisis, the solution is social entrepreneurship which seeks to create and support a circular economic model. It is from this understanding that Eco Spindles emerged, and we are fortunate that our customers and partners have supported us in this vital mission. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with them in the future,” Dr. Amarasinghe said.
Eco Spindles also announced plans to manufacture recycled polyester yarn using textile waste during the conference. The company has been working closely and trailing this innovation with leading apparel manufacturers in Sri Lanka and global apparel brands. The first commercially viable product will be launched in May 2022.
“Globally, only 20% of clothing waste is recycled or reused, while the remaining 80% is incinerated or in landfills. Given that Sri Lanka is a prolific exporter of apparel, the ability to recycle textile waste back to yarn will provide the domestic industry and its global brands and retail partners a significant boost in enhancing their sustainability efforts. Additionally, a PET bottle, which typically takes over 1,000 years to degrade in the environment, can be recycled into polyester yarn, which manufacturers later convert into garments. Through this conversion, we remove over 900 years in degradation time if we responsibly dispose of and recycle plastic,” Nalaka Senavirathna said.
Business
President briefs Sri Lankan delegation leaving for tariff related discussions in Washington
A Sri Lankan delegation is set to participate in discussions in Washington, D.C., focusing on tariff-related matters, following an invitation extended by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). This is the second in-person meeting aimed at ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral trade relations between the two nations.
This initiative builds on several prior virtual interactions held between the USTR and Sri Lankan officials, and underscores a commitment to deepening economic ties. The upcoming talks are anticipated to explore avenues for enhancing trade cooperation and securing favourable outcomes for Sri Lanka, in light of current economic priorities.
Ahead of the visit, a high-level meeting was convened today under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Disanayake to ensure the country’s interests are well represented. The discussion focused on aligning the delegation’s approach with Sri Lanka’s broader economic strategy, ensuring the best possible outcomes from the upcoming discussions.
Key participants at the meeting included Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma; Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, K.A. Vimalenthirarajah; Duminda Hulangamuwa, Senior Economic Advisor to the President; Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe; Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development K.M.M. Siriwardana; Nirmal Vigneshwaran, representing the Attorney General’s Department; and Dharshana Perera from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Details of the discussions in Washington are expected to be made available following the conclusion of the meetings.
[PMD]
Sri Lanka’s largest tourism exhibition, “Tourism Renaissance 2025” (Sancharaka Udawa 2025), was inaugurated on Friday (23) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Organized jointly by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), this event brings together key stakeholders across the tourism industry. It offers a valuable platform for small and medium-scale enterprises, as well as individuals aspiring to enter the tourism sector, to connect with market opportunities and showcase their products and services.
The two-day exhibition, which ends on Saturday [24], features 250 trade stalls and includes participation from a wide range of sectors such as hotels, tour operators, airlines, service providers and educational institutions.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath stated that the government has declared 2025 the “Year of Tourism Renaissance,” with plans to generate USD 5 billion in revenue from the tourism sector by the end of the year.
Also in attendance at the opening ceremony were Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, SLAITO Chairman Nalin Jayasundara, SLTPB Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam and a distinguished group of invitees including the Ambassador of Germany to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity with a vibrant national event at the Popam Arboretum in Dambulla, centering on the theme “Be part of the Plan.” The celebration, attended by students, researchers, community members, and officials, was led by Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, who emphasized the country’s commitment to preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister Patabendi said, “As a government, we are committed to taking every possible step to protect our ecosystems and biodiversity. But this is not the responsibility of the government alone. It is a shared responsibility—one that requires the active participation of every citizen.”
The event highlighted the value of community involvement in conservation and featured a series of exhibitions and talks focused on sustainable tourism, traditional food systems, and environmental education. Locally sourced underutilized fruits and indigenous foods were displayed and shared by communities, underscoring the deep ties between biodiversity and traditional knowledge.
The celebration also featured two major guest lectures. Professor Cyril Wijesundara spoke on the current status of biodiversity in Sri Lanka, while Professor Gamini Pushpakumara presented on the promotion of underutilized food crops—a key element in ensuring food security and sustainability in the face of climate change.
“This is more than a celebration,” Minister Patabendi told journalists at the event. “It’s a reminder that sustainable development must go hand-in-hand with nature. We need to build our future with the forest, not against it.”
By Ifham Nizam
Final rites of veteran actress Malani Fonseka to be held with state honours on Monday, 26th May at Independence Square
Shoaib Bashir seals innings win as Sean Williams stars for spirited Zimbabwe
Government is taking necessary action to enhance the facilities and professional standard within the healthcare sector – PM
-
Features7 days agoSearching for George Keyt
-
Features7 days agoThe Strategic Imperative:Why Sri Lanka Could Transform Indo-Pacific Security Through Space
-
Life style7 days agoBehind the sparkle
-
Business5 days agoDialog Enterprise strengthens data protection and cybersecurity with ISO/IEC 27017 and ISO/IEC 27018 certifications
-
Business6 days agoCargills Bank Q1 PAT rises to Rs. 162 million, up Rs. 116 million
-
Editorial4 days agoExpediency vs. Public duty
-
Midweek Review4 days agoJournalistic Brilliance Joins Humanity
-
Business4 days agoEthical AI and responsible leadership in emerging markets