Chamber of Garment Exporters congratulates new PM and Cabinet

The Executive Committee, together with members of the Sri Lanka Chamber of Garment Exporters, which represents the SMEs in the apparel industry, in a statement, extended their warmest congratulations to the new Government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and their newly appointed Cabinet of Ministers, and all elected MPs following their remarkable victory at the recently concluded General Elections.“We believe that the people in this country have given this mandate to the newly elected peoples representatives to establish peace, growth and stability by the implementation of ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’, the policy framework of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. It is mandatory to have a strong government to pave the way to reach economic development through policy stability in our country,” SLCGE President Bandula Fernando said in the statement.The Sri Lanka Chamber of Garment Exporters was founded in 1992 and having around 100 member factories around the country and labour force strength is currently around 22,000. 

It said the apparel sector accounts for almost $5 billion of Sri Lanka’s export income and the SME sector contributes to over 30% of the total amount. “Our contribution to the GDP in no small way and provide direct and indirect employment to a large segment of the population,” President Fernando emphasised.

“We highly appreciate the steps taken to appoint State ministers to specific portfolios and delegating responsibility to look after the SME sector of the country whom contributing around 65% to the GDP,” SLCGE said. 

“To eradicate the after effects of the ‘COVID-19’ pandemic, priority should be given to strengthen the SME sector which could be reached by stimulating the SMEs and developing a constructive and cooperative mechanism for a speedy growth. To sustain positive economic growth, a stable and conducive environment should be created for the industrialists in the SME sector,” SLCGE General Secretary Hemantha Perera. “We wish every success to the new Government on your journey to bring development and prosperity to the people in Sri Lanka while extending the fullest support and cooperation of our chamber,” SLCGE statement added.