Sri Lanka exported garments to the value of US$ 2.38 billion last year, an increase from US$ 2.2 billion the previous year, latest statistics revealed.

In rupee terms, 2003 exports were equivalent to 229.9 billion, up from 214.9 billion in 2002.

Mast Lanka (Brandix) became the top exporter of garments in 2003 by contributing US$ 150 million to the total value.

Smart Shirts Lanka Ltd (US$ 106m), Bodyline (Pvt) Ltd (US$ 61m), Eam Maliban Textiles (Pvt) Ltd (US$ 55m), Slimline Pvt Ltd (US$ 49m), Unichela Pvt Ltd (US$ 41m), Growth Lanka Pvt Ltd (US$ 40m), Shadowline Pvt Ltd (US$ 38m), Omegaline Ltd (US$ 37m), Timex and Fergasm Group  (US$ 35m), Ceylon Knit Trend Ltd (US$ 32m), Hidramani Ltd (US$ 32m), Unigrand Lanka Pvt Ltd (US$ 31m) and Star Garment Ltd (US$ 30m) were among the other top exporters.

Sri Lanka's top 10 export markets included the US, UK, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Japan and Israel.

USA continued to be the largest single buyer and imported garments to the value of Rs. 142.3 billion, contributing a 61.92 per cent share to the total value. Exports to the UK valued at Rs. 47.4 billion, Germany - Rs 7 billion, Italy - Rs. 7 billion, Belgium - Rs. 4 billion and Canada - Rs. 4 billion.