By Ifham Nizam

U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung reaffirmed the United States’ role as a partner in Sri Lanka’s journey, stressing: “Together, we can drive economic growth in both of our nations while setting new standards of excellence on the global stage. Our partnership is built on mutual commitment to transparency, ethical practices and long-term collaboration, ensuring sustainable growth and mutual prosperity.”

In a stirring address to key stakeholders in Sri Lanka’s apparel sector, Chung, emphasized the vital role of innovation, resilience, and collaboration in propelling the industry forward.

Speaking at the 42nd Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) on Monday at the Cinnamon Grand, the event that brought together representatives from leading manufacturers, local entrepreneurs, and policymakers, Chung reasserted the United States’ commitment to strengthening its partnership with Sri Lanka’s thriving apparel sector.

Chung added: “The apparel industry plays an indispensable role in Sri Lanka’s economic growth, with clothing and textiles remaining one of the country’s leading foreign currency earners. You, every single one of you in this room, are an important part of the foundation on which Sri Lanka’s growth depends.

“In a rapidly changing world, the road ahead will undoubtedly present unique challenges, but also opportunities. I trust you will approach these twists and turns with the same tenacity, creativity, and commitment to innovation that has defined this industry.

“U.S. apparel manufacturing, a vibrant and diverse sector, is projected to generate USD 365 billion in revenue by 2025 while employing 83,000 Americans.

“The U.S. market is not only one of the largest and most lucrative in the world but also provides unparalleled access to advanced technology, skilled labor and robust infrastructure. By establishing operations in the United States, Sri Lankan companies can benefit from reduced shipping times, lower tariffs and the ability to respond swiftly to market demands. Sri Lankan firms need to explore business opportunities in the U.S.

“The Sri Lankan government’s efforts to create a transparent and welcoming business environment are praiseworthy. From this viewpoint, good governance, transparency and ethical practices are cornerstones in attracting foreign investment.

“The private sector’s ability to drive growth, unhindered by red tape and excessive regulation, will be crucial for fostering economic progress. Sri Lanka’s leadership in quality manufacturing and ethical practices sets a positive example for the global industry.”

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya lauded the apparel industry for its crucial role in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and growth. In her speech as the Chief Guest, Dr. Amarasuriya celebrated the sector as a “global leader” in ethical and sustainable manufacturing, underscoring its resilience and its significant contribution to the country’s export revenue.

Amarasuriya added: “With a steady contribution of over 31% to total export earnings, the apparel sector, which generated USD 5.05 billion in revenue in 2024, continues to be a powerhouse of economic activity. Despite the ambitious USD 8 billion export revenue target for this year, it is ‘achievable’ through the collective efforts of the government, the private sector and the workforce.

“From overcoming the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to navigating the current economic crisis, Sri Lanka’s apparel industry has shown unwavering resilience, maintaining a steady inflow of foreign exchange and safeguarding livelihoods during times of uncertainty.

“Ethical and sustainable business practices are no longer optional; they are the way forward. The industry needs to continue to lead by example in environmentally conscious manufacturing.

“The sector’s pioneering efforts, such as the world’s first custom-built green apparel factory and Asia’s first carbon-neutral certified factory are commendable. The industry should expand these sustainability initiatives to reinforce Sri Lanka’s position as a preferred destination for environmentally conscious brands and consumers.”

One of the key highlights of the event was the election of Rajitha Jayasuriya as the first female chairperson of the SLAEA. Amarasuriya congratulated Jayasuriya, emphasizing the importance of empowering women in leadership roles within the industry. She stressed that gender equality and promoting women into decision-making positions are essential to fostering a thriving, innovative, and sustainable business environment.

The Prime Minister also pointed out the sector’s vital role in supporting women’s empowerment. With a workforce of approximately 350,000 people, a significant majority of whom are women, Amarasuriya described these women as “change-makers” who not only support their families and communities but also contribute to the broader economy. She called for greater recognition of both paid and unpaid labor, acknowledging that the contributions of women workers extend beyond the factory floor to their households and communities.

The Prime Minister outlined the government’s commitment to supporting the apparel industry’s growth through policy stability, improved infrastructure, and vocational training aligned with the evolving demands of the sector. She emphasized the need for collaboration between the government and industry leaders to meet the challenges of an ever-changing global market while ensuring sustainable and inclusive development.

As part of its continuing efforts towards mainstreaming SDGs into the Government’s planning, budgeting and performance monitoring cycles, the Sustainable Development Council recently conducted a knowledge session for SDG focal point officers appointed by all 24 line ministries on best practices and approaches relating to integrated planning and budgeting towards SDG acceleration. The session focused on supporting ministerial officers in development planning, progress monitoring and SDG coordination.

Delivering the Opening Remarks, the Director General of Sustainable Development Council (SDC), Chamindry Saparamadu, emphasized that Sri Lanka has made mixed progress towards the 2030 SDG targets with only 06 years remaining. While certain goals have seen commendable progress, others remain far from their targets, underscoring the need for sustained and coordinated efforts at all levels. She highlighted the importance of policy coherence for SDG acceleration as well as collaborative approaches and multi-stakeholder engagement in the country’s development process. She further underscored the need to understand the synergies between the government’s flagship programme ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ and the SDGs, as many of the components of the Clean Sri Lanka programme correspond to SDG targets. A clear example of this is in sectors such as waste management (SDG 12.5 – Reduction in waste generation), road safety (SDG 3.6 – Road traffic accidents)​, and anti-corruption (SDG 16.5 – Corruption and bribery) which are priorities that have both environmental and human benefits under the SDGs.

The Session also included a detailed presentation of the objectives, scope and the key activities of the Clean Sri Lanka Programme by the Additional Secretary to the President – Clean Sri Lanka Programme, Eng S.P.C Sugeeshwara. He highlighted that the Clean Sri Lanka programme aims to achieve a beautiful island with smiling people through positive behavioral changes in Sri Lankan society, enhanced quality of life of the people, integrated efforts towards social, environmental and ethical reawakening and enhanced values and ethics for human relationships. He further emphasized that the Clean Sri Lanka Programme is expected to be implemented through an institutional structure connecting the highest levels down to the lowest tier of Government, the Grama Niladhari divisions through inclusive and participatory approaches.

Delivering a presentation on global/ regional best practices relating to integrated planning, Policy and Programme Specialist / Team Leader of Sustainable Growth Team of UNDP Sri Lanka, Ms. Dulani Sirisena, highlighted that long-term planning horizons, policy coherence and consistency of Plans, strong institutional arrangements, accountability and evaluation, and societal inclusion are good practices established by countries such as Bangladesh and Malaysia to advance the implementation of the SDGs.

The event also featured presentations from line ministries, such as the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, on their current institutional arrangements for SDG-based planning, budgeting and monitoring. The presentations were also complemented by technical guidance from SDC staff Prasadika Basnayake and Nadeeka Amerasnghe, who discussed the technical details of preparing Annual Action Plans, Budget Proposals and Performance Reports aligned with the SDGs.

Reiterating its technological leadership in mobile technology, SLT-MOBITEL, the National ICT Solutions Provider, trialed 5G-Advanced (5G-A) for the first time in Sri Lanka, marking a historic moment by showcasing the next generation technology in Sri Lanka.

The demonstration held on January 12, 2025, showcased SLT-MOBITEL’s leadership in telecom innovation, successfully conducting Sri Lanka’s first 5G-A trial and achieving blazing speeds of over 5 Gbps. The milestone trial, held at the SLT-MOBITEL headquarters in Colombo 08, showcased the company’s commitment to technological excellence and industry leadership. The trial leveraged advanced ZTE radio equipment and Xiaomi 14 Ultra handset, utilizing 3CC Carrier Aggregation, Massive MIMO and 1024QAM modulation technology utilizing the C-band spectrum.

This breakthrough demonstrates the transformative power of advanced 5G technology, which promises ultra-fast speeds, enhanced reliability, and greater network capacity, unlocking a new era in mobile communications.

Commenting on this monumental milestone, Sudharshana Geeganage, Chief Operating Officer of Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd., said, “The successful trial of 5G-Advanced reinforces SLT-MOBITEL’s commitment to leading Sri Lanka into the next phase of the digital revolution. We are excited to explore the opportunities these new technologies bring for industries and individuals alike, which will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the nation’s digitization initiatives and enhance our contribution toward a greater Sri Lanka.”