Having successfully wrapped a three decadesโ run, Sri Lankaโs foremost apparel training body is to expand to the South Asian region next. Meanwhile, for Sri Lanka to sustain its apparel advantage over the longer term, it needs to think beyond its low cost of labour.
โI am pleased to inform that Sri Lanka Institute of Textile and Apparel (SLITA) under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce is planning to expandโ said the Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen on 15 August. Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the apparel industry graduation ceremony by SLITA at Nelum Pokuna theatre where more than 500 new grads of SLITA received their certificates and awards from him. Joining the session were such industry leaders as the Chairman of Joint Apparel Associations Forum (JAAF) Sharad Amalean and JAAF Secretary General Tuly Cooray, Ministry of Industry and Commerceโ Additional Secretary Textile Development M.A. Thajudeen, as well as HE High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Riaz Hamidullah.
โWith todayโs passing out of another 500 Diplomates the grand total of SLITA course participants stands at 21600โ said Minister Bathiudeen, and added: โAs the only government institution engaged in training for apparel and leather sectors SLITA showed several important achievements. In 2017 SLITA performed almost 50000 testings for the first time, trained 5400 persons. These successful diplomates obtained academic and onโthe-job training in Textile and Apparel Technology with latest industrial exposure.ย Today I am also pleased to inform you that SLITA has important plans of expansion.ย SLITA is planning to expand its services to South Asian region and preparing to establish links and collaborations with prestigious textile and apparel institutions in the region. SLITA is also planning to acquire degree awarding status to award apparel degrees.โ Highlighting apparel sector performance of the first half of 2018 he said: โOur apparel exports that picked up in May this year strengthened further in June. The total exports in January-June this year was at $2.4 billion, up by 5% compared to same period in 2017. We exported US $ 1 billon apparels to EU, another $ 1 billion to US and $321 million to the rest of the world. Exports to EU grew by 7.76% and to US by 3.77%. For us to sustain this success rate over the longer period, we need to focus on gaining more advantages, in addition to our low labour costs. โ
โI like to make three suggestions for the next stage of Sri Lankan apparel sectorโ said JAAF Chairman Sharad Amalean. โIncreased adoption of digital platforms and e-commerce business for the sector. Secondly speed and agility in our end-to-end courses. Thirdly, making Sri Lanka a total solutions hub-this is important.โ
SLITA has a proud 30 year-history of continued success and was formally established as a single institution (after merging two institutions) by Parliament Act no 12 of 2009.
Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress