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by Ananda Kannangara

Sri Lanka's apparel sector which has provided at least two million direct and indirect employment opportunities to the youth in the country is now showing exceptional progress due to the efforts taken by those in the industry to develop it, Chairman, Sri Lanka Apparel Exports Association (SLAEA) Ranjan Casiechetty said.

He was delivering the keynote address at a ceremony at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre (SLECC) to coincide with the opening of Sri Lanka's first international garment exhibition "The Garment Times Show" (GTS). Chief Executive, S.D. Publications (Pvt) Ltd The publisher of Garment Times Magazine Sujith Gunawardana presided.

There were nearly 85 stalls and the show was patronised by international buyers and local buying office representatives as well as manufacturers.

Casiechetty said that the country's apparel industry has contributed immensely to swell the economy and at least 53 per cent foreign exchange we currently earn annually today comes from garments.

"We are very thankful to the organisers for holding such an exhibition in Sri Lanka for the first time since this exhibition will undoubtedly benefit manufacturers of garments and the suppliers of fabrics, accessories and machinery," he said.

He said that Sri Lanka can showcase the present development of the country's apparel sector through this international exhibition and encourage the organisers to conduct a similar exhibition in the future and promote the local garment sector further.

Deputy Chairman, SLAEA Gihan Nanayakkara said that this exhibition is a showcase for the whole garment industry in the country and conducting exhibitions of this nature even in the future will immensely benefit the country's garment manufacturers as well as suppliers of machinery and accessories.

Sujith Gunawardana said that the objective of holding this exhibition in the country for the first time is to show international buyers the capabilities of the Sri Lankan garment industry through the manufacturer's exhibits, seminars and fashion shows.

"Although this is a buyer focused show, the fabric, accessories and machinery companies in the suppliers' section will have an opportunity to show the manufacturers what they have to offer to buyers," Gunawardana said.

Gunawardana said that special attention will be given to fabric and accessories from India, South East Asia and Sri Lanka.

"It will be an added feature for the visiting buyers and the local manufacturers as they can source fabrics and accessories from the suppliers for the orders being placed with the manufacturers all under one roof," he said.

Gunawardana thanked SriLankan Airlines for helping them to take a delegation including members of the Government and the industry to several destinations in Europe to promote the Sri Lankan garment industry through the Garment Times Show.

Turny Mohomed also spoke.

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