Sri Lankan prez calls for high-quality textile production

01 Oct '20

2 min read

Pic: Shutterstock

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa recently urged domestic companies to immediately start producing high-quality textiles. Following an inspection visit to textile mills in the Dankotuwa Industrial Zone on September 28, he explored the possibility of sourcing a larger percentage of material for uniforms for schools and security forces to domestic firms.

The president, accompanied by minister of industries Wimal Weerawansa, visited the Dankotuwa Textile Mill, Dankotuwa; the Vanguard Industrial (Pvt) Ltd in Kandana and the Creative Textile Mill (Pvt) Ltd in Wattala.

Several industrialists conveyed that following the uniform coupon system, they had to shut down a number of their production facilities and lay off a large number of employees as well, according to Sri Lankan media reports.

Creative Textile Mill (Pvt) Ltd closed in 2015. Despite its discontinued production and income, the proprietor had to pay an interest of Rs 8 million to banks every year.

Creative Textile Mill has been importing threads from India, Pakistan and China to produce clothing material and managed to employ 500 people. The production capacity of the facility is expected to be increased to 100,000 metres per day while demand for annual school uniform estimated at 11 million meters.

President Rajapaksa encouraged the managerial level staff to recommence apparel production and requested them to figure out a plan for the self-employed entrepreneurs to contribute to the demand for the school uniforms.

The import cost can be reduced by 68 per cent if domestic textile production is boosted, the president pointed out. The ministry of education could also save up to Rs 80 million annually by purchasing domestic garments.

Vanguard Industries (Pvt) Ltd, Kapuwatta, Kadana, which supplied 40 per cent of school uniform requirement before 2015, is now engaged in producing bed sheets and towels. President Rajapaksa encouraged its management to raise the capacity to meet the demand for fabrics in the domestic market.

The management of Creative Textile Mill, which dyes fabrics required by the security forces, told the president that imported fabrics are not tested and that there is a high cost involved in testing domestic fabric products.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)