Apparel and Textile exports: SLAEA reappoints Chairperson

The Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) recently held its  Annual General Meeting (AGM), at which it had reappointed its existing Chair Rajitha Jayasuriya, alongside the newly appointed Executive Committee comprising Jeevith Senaratne as Deputy Chairperson, Hasib Omar as Treasurer, and Indika Liyanahewage as Immediate Past Chairperson.

In her address, Jayasuriya pointed to the sector’s resilience in 2025, noting that apparel exports grew by 5.42 % to reach $ 5.019 billion, with exports to the European Union rising 12.48 % and non-traditional markets recording a 4.8 % increase.

She said: “As we work to expand in Europe, the renewal of GSP+ must be treated as a national priority, because it protects momentum and safeguards access to one of our most important growing markets. With India having sealed its FTA with the EU, we will need to mobilise faster, to ensure Sri Lanka is not left behind.”

She also called for a wider competitiveness agenda beyond market access, including a dedicated trade office to prioritise key FTAs, faster export facilitation through the Single Window system and ETA, predictable fiscal administration including VAT refunds, and accelerated digital reforms such as the move towards a fiscalised e-invoicing system, building on the ongoing industry pilot integrating an API with RAMIS 2.0.

Source - The Morning