Calzedonia's new garment factory in Vinayagapuram

06 Aug '11

3 min read

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen addresses the ceremony in Vavuniya on July 29. Sri Lanka's garment industry is now a US $ 3.5 billion export business, accounting for 42% of the country's export earnings. The industry is also now known as a reliable supplier of quality garments to the international markets, in addition to the reputation of its competitive pricing says Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce.

Minister Bathiudeen was speaking at the ceremony to begin the construction of a new garment factory in Vinayagapuram, Vavuniya on July 29. The garment manufacturing factory is venture by Omega Line Limited, which is 100% owned by Calzedonia Finanziaria of Luxembourg. Calzedonia's Vavuniya factory is expected to commence operations in October 2012 and will provide employment to 1500 at full capacity. The initial investment for the Vavuniya factory is US $ 20 million.

Having laid the foundation stone for the factory, Minister Bathiudeen announced: “Sri Lanka's garment industry has grown to be the largest contributor to the export revenue of the country. At present, this industry is a US $ 3.5 billion export business, and accounts for 42% of the country's export earnings. The USA and the EU are the major destinations, which account for about 70% of Sri Lanka's apparel exports.

Sri Lanka has established herself, as a reliable supplier of quality garments, at competitive prices, and upholds ethical practices, backed by legislation. The country is thus, being identified as a producer of “Garments without Guilt”, which epitomizes the synergy between ethical brands and apparel “Made in Sri Lanka”. It is true that, these ethical sourcing and sustainable development practices, aim at empowering women, and support their communities, through poverty alleviation, and also offering opportunities, for good education and personal growth” Minister Bathiudeen said.

Omega Line Limited is 100% owned by Calzedonia Finanziaria of Luxembourg and started operations in 1999 in Sri Lanka with 30 employees in Sandalankawa. Calzedonia has other manufacturing operations in Croatia, Serbia, and even Bulgaria. Calzedonia's Sri Lanka operations see annual export value of over $ 300 million to Italy alone. It now employs over 3,000 persons to manufacture lingerie. The total investment made to-date is approximately US$ 45 million on two state of the art factories with a total area of 265,000 sq.ft. on an extent of over 25 acres. Omega Line exports its products to Europe under the brand names of “Intimissimi” and “Tezenis” while its beachwear and swimwear are under the brand name of “Calzedonia”.

“Omega Line has undertaken many Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects to improve the quality of life through livelihood and infrastructure development. The salient amongst the projects implemented was the reconstruction of Singakkuliya Road at a cost of 35 million rupees followed by donation of 50 houses at Hambantota for those displaced by the tsunami for which Sri Lanka thanks them” Minister Bathiudeen said.

“I congratulate Omega Line Limited for establishing a garments factory in my electoral district and generating employment opportunities for about 2,000 people paving the way for prosperity and social upliftment of the people in this area” Minister Bathiudeen said.

Minister of Industry and Commerce