‘Apparel industry on positive track’

Sara PATHIRANA

In a backdrop of foreign buyers and customers building confidence with the end of the three decade war and the boost in tourism in Sri Lanka, the country’s apparel industry was reaching a positive boom, said Managing Director of Flying Apparels, Asiri Perera.

Speaking to Daily News, Business Desk, he said this was despite government opponents and outsiders saying that a problem had risen from the withdrawal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) concessions scheme that the US had initiated and other duty grants.

“With me, being in the apparel industry and having the support from the Chamber of Commerce and the Apparels’ Association, I can assure that the Sri Lankan government has taken steps to improve the rights of workers and there is nothing in this context that shows that there are any permeable issues when it comes to the GSP concessions. People in the industry have shown no sign of problems regarding that matter, even though the opposition have divulged news that it was so,” Perera explained. Flying Apparels Panadura, employs nearly 400 employees.

The company specializes in ladies fashion, from bias cut dresses to blouses, skirts, T-shirts and nightwear. Flying Apparels is one of the major BOI approved sole proprietor companies in Sri Lanka, and has catered to clients in countries such as USA, UK, Australia and Germany and has been in operation for the last 14 years.

Since the inception of export activity, orders have been pouring in successfully, to an overloading extent. The same goes to many other people in the apparels industry. It is solely based on the quality, work ethic and value for money.

For the benefit of our employees, People’s Bank has even initiated providing of loans on a lower interest rate to workers in the apparels industry, to assist them in their future progress, Perera added.

Perera also underlined the initiative taken by the government in building projects of garment factories in the North of the country, so that people there can acquire jobs. To date, the garment industry is one means of getting foreign exchange into the country and the President provides full support with regard to this. The Apparels’ Association also play a major role in this context and also helps in raising awareness with the oppositions negative position in this whole perspective.

“Secretary General of Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), Tuli Cooray, is working hard to bring this issue to a conclusion and help people in this industry against such a backdrop. So far, we see opulence in this business and it is disheartening to notice opposing bodies instead of support, as it gives out a negative vibe to the whole country,” he concluded.