Business

Female apparel workers demand dignity and recognition

Published

6 years ago

2021/03/12

Female apparel workers commended the efforts taken by the country’s apparel industry to ensure the wellbeing of the workforce which makes the biggest contributions to Sri Lanka’s economy.

The female representatives of the Sri Lanka Chamber of Garment Exporters (SLCGE), member of Joint Apparel Association Forum, made these remarks during a press conference held in Colombo on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The press conference focused on the welfare and betterment of the living standards of women engaged in various occupations in the apparel industry in Sri Lanka and the representatives emphasized the importance of taking steps not to limit the recognition of the role of women in the garment industry, the biggest strength of the national economy of the country, to Women’s Day.

Women make up about 85% of the workforce in the apparel industry in Sri Lanka, especially in the rural areas and is one of the key employment generating sectors to strengthen the economy of women. A female apparel worker said that the garment industry in Sri Lanka has become a leading partner in the flow of women’s employment, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs for women and giving them the opportunity to play a leading role in the country’s economy.

It was also noted that the apparel industry itself is significantly contributing to the uplifting of the living standards of women involved in it while working towards enhancing their lifestyle.

Many women delegates who attended the press conference were of the view that women in the garment industry have a high standard of living and play a dignified role in strengthening their economy and improving the lives of their family members.

“The media, teledramas etc. always showcase the female workers in the apparel industry as an underprivileged and less fortunate group of people. This is not entirely true,” a representative said.

“The women in the garment industry have the opportunity to successfully strengthen their future by receiving promotions and pay rises based on the quality of their work, and the opportunities and privileges available to them are immeasurable,” an apparel worker said.

In the garment industry, mainly dominated by females, employers pay special attention to their problems and make a significant contribution to making their economy self-sufficient by providing incentives, attendance allowances and other benefits in addition to the monthly salary, free uniforms, transportation, etc.

A spokeswoman for the apparel industry said that the entertainment, annual outings and free meals were a big boost.

The speakers also commended the management of the garment industry for taking necessary steps to address the day-to-day economic problems of their employees and taking steps to pay the salaries and other incentives on time, even during the COVID-19 pandemic which has greatly affected the industries around the world. The women delegates who participated in the event highly commended the employers for focusing more on the health of their employees, adhering to the rules and regulations imposed by the Ministry of Health during the pandemic times, and for setting the stage for the continuation of the manufacturing process and securing their jobs. The garment workers also expressed their gratitude to the management for setting up special quarantine centers for their employees who have been infected with COVID-19, and also their close associates.

While the whole world celebrated Women’s Day, the apparel workers in Sri Lanka were of the view that the value, importance and the attention given to women should not be limited to just one day.

They added that it should be the same throughout the year and that the government should intervene to secure the role of women in this patriarchal society. The importance of creating an institution in the garment industry for women to pursue higher education relevant to their occupations was also emphasized.

“On media all you see is the condemning of the professional dignity of women entering the garment industry. Through works of art and other means of media, it is necessary to give a correct picture and take steps to avoid that situation,” the women delegates who attended the press conference added.

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Business

SLEIS 2026 to examine how Sri Lanka can strengthen its place in Asia’s growth networks

Published

8 hours ago

2026/09/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Ambassador Akio ISOMATA / Chathuranga Abeysinghe / P.D. Singh

As Asia continues to account for a growing share of global economic activity, Sri Lanka faces an important opportunity to strengthen its links with regional trade networks, supply chains and economic corridors. How the country can make better use of these connections to attract investment, expand trade and strengthen its position in regional value chains will be among the key questions at the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026, organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on 12-13 October 2026.

Titled “Linking Sri Lanka to Asia’s Growth Networks: Trade, Corridors, and Value Chains,” the session will examine the opportunities for Sri Lanka to deepen its integration with the wider Asian economy and build stronger connections with regional and global markets.

The session keynote will be delivered by P.D Singh – Chief Executive Officer, India and South Asia, Standard Chartered Bank. He will be joined for a panel discussion by Chathuranga Abeysinghe – Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Akio ISOMATA – Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, MASAAKI Kawabata – Chairman – Toyota Lanka (Private) Limited, and Ravi Jayawardena – Group Chief Executive Officer-Maliban Biscuits (Private) Limited. The session will be moderated by Ms. Subhashini Abeysinghe – Research Director- Verité Research.

For Sri Lanka, stronger regional integration can open opportunities beyond traditional export markets. Greater participation in regional supply chains, improved trade connectivity and closer links to economic corridors can support investment in areas such as logistics, manufacturing, export services and other sectors connected to international production networks.

The discussion will consider what Sri Lanka needs to do to strengthen its position within these networks, including improving trade connectivity, attracting investment and creating a business environment that enables companies to participate more effectively in regional and global value chains.

It will also look at the experience of businesses and international institutions operating across the region, providing perspectives on how companies assess markets, build supply chains and identify locations for investment. With supply chains and investment flows increasingly shaped by regional connectivity, the session will also consider the partnerships and strategies needed to position Sri Lanka as a more competitive participant in Asia’s growth networks, while creating opportunities for trade, investment, innovation and economic growth.

The session will form part of the second day of SLEIS 2026, held under the theme “Positioning Sri Lanka in a Changing Global Economy: Resilience, Reform, and the Future of Economic Policy.”

The Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026 is supported by its valued sponsors and partners. Platinum Sponsor – Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka, Gold Sponsor – VISA Worldwide (Pvt) Ltd., Bronze Sponsor – South Asia Gateway Terminals (Pvt) Ltd., Strategic Development Partner – Asian Development Bank, Telecommunication Partner – Dialog Telecommunication, Television Partner – Dialog Television, Session Sponsors – David Pieris Motor Company (Pvt) Ltd., Hemas Holdings PLC, Sunshine Holdings PLC, International Construction Consortium (Pvt) Ltd., Official Logistics Partner – Hayleys Advantis Limited, Official Airline – SriLankan Airlines Ltd., Official Hospitality Partner – Shangri-La Colombo, Airline Partner – China Eastern Air Holding Co. Ltd.

Registrations are now open at https://sleis.chamber.lk/. For more information, contact Alikie on 011 558 8805 (alikie@chamber.lk) or Shanuka on 0701082541 (events.division@chamber.lk).

Business

AAC launches seat belt safety awareness initiative with RDA Colombo

Published

8 hours ago

2026/09/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC), in collaboration with the Road Development Authority (RDA) and Police – Traffic Division, will conduct a special Road Safety Awareness Programme to promote the importance of wearing seat belts in vehicles specially on the express highways in order to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.

The official handing-over ceremony took place at the Chairman’s Office of the Road Development Authority on 14th September 2026, where specially designed Seat Belt Safety Hanging Tags & Stickers prepared by the Automobile Association of Ceylon were handed over to the RDA for distribution to motorists at entry points to the expressways.

The initiative is being conducted in connection with the seat belt law coming into effect on 19th September 2026 and is intended to create greater public awareness of the importance of wearing seat belts in both the front and rear seats of vehicles.

Representing the Automobile Association of Ceylon at the ceremony Dhammika Attygalle, President; Prasanna De Zoysa, Sectional Chairman – Road Safety; and Devapriya Hettiarachchi, Secretary, Senior Superintendent of Police -Traffic Sisira Peththrathanthri, participated in the programme.

The Automobile Association of Ceylon has consistently maintained that road safety is one of its foremost priorities. Through awareness campaigns, educational programmes and collaboration with government authorities and other stakeholders, the Association continues to encourage responsible driving and safer behaviour among all road users.

AAC believes that the proper use of seat belts, including by rear-seat passengers, is a simple but vital safety measure that can help reduce serious injuries and save lives in the event of a road crash.

The programme further strengthens the cooperation between the Automobile Association of Ceylon, the Road Development Authority and the Police in their shared commitment towards safer roads and saving lives in Sri Lanka.

Business

Sanath Jayasuriya as Brand Ambassador

Published

9 hours ago

2026/09/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Mr. Dasun Wickramarathna, Chairman Global Housing & Real Estate (Pvt) Ltd with Sanath Jayasuriya, World Renown Personality & Brand Ambassador

Global Housing & Real Estate (Pvt) Ltd (GHR) has announced a landmark partnership with Sri Lankan cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya, as its Brand Ambassador as GHR enters a new chapter in its journey within Sri Lanka’s luxury real estate sector.

The partnership was officially unveiled at a press conference held at Cinnamon Life, Colombo, on 14 September 2026, bringing together industry leaders, investors and members of the media under the theme “Two Gamechangers, A New Beginning.”

The collaboration brings together two names associated with challenging convention in their respective fields: Sanath Jayasuriya, whose fearless approach transformed the dynamics of international cricket, and GHR, which has sought to introduce new approaches to property investment and luxury living in Sri Lanka.

Over the past two decades, GHR has built its presence in Sri Lanka’s real estate sector with a focus on quality, structural integrity and long-term investment value.

A significant milestone in the company’s journey came in 2016, when GHR introduced the hotel residency concept to the Sri Lankan market. The model brought together luxury hospitality and real estate investment, creating opportunities for property ownership with the potential to generate investment returns while contributing to the growth of the country’s high-end tourism offering. GHR has since continued to expand its portfolio across key destinations in Sri Lanka.

Speaking at the announcement, Dasun Wickramarathna, Chairman of Global Housing & Real Estate (Pvt) Ltd, said, “For over twenty years, Global Housing & Real Estate has strived to push the boundaries of what property development can achieve in Sri Lanka. As pioneers who introduced the hotel residency concept back in 2016, our mission has always been clear: to provide high-yield investment opportunities for our clients while taking Sri Lanka’s condominium industry into a new frontier.”

Commenting on the decision to partner with Sanath Jayasuriya, he added, “When looking for a voice to represent GHR’s ethos, Sanath Jayasuriya was the natural choice. Just as Sanath disrupted traditional international cricket and redefined how the world viewed the opening overs, GHR challenged traditional approaches to real estate and established a new benchmark in luxury living. This partnership represents a true convergence; Two Gamechangers, A New Beginning.”