Industry veteran Bandula Fernando re-elected President of SLCGE at AGM

Thursday, 27 March 2025 03:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The SLCGE Management Commitee from left: Treasurer Rantha Tissera, Vice President Nishantha Bakmeege, General Secretary Hemantha Perera, President Bandula Fernando, Assistant General Secretary Malinda Ranasinghe, Vice President Rumesh Perera, and Assistant Treasurer Menuka Gunawardana

The appointed SLCGE Executive Commitee from left: Shehan Olegasageram, Harsha Nissanka, Nishantha Bakmeege, Rantha Tissera, Walter Perera, Cyril Mendis, Hemantha Perera, Jeremy Enas, Bandula Fernando, Malinda Ranasinghe, Rumesh Perera, Rajitha Perera, Menuka Gunawardana, Indika Wijewardena, Rohan Samarakkody, and Yohan Galahitiyawa

(Absent: Ranjith Tissera, Wasantha Gamage, Zahid Jafferjee, Chandana Weerasinghe, Denver Jayasundara, John De Silva)

SLCGE President Bandula Fernando delivering his speech

The Sri Lanka Chamber of Garment Exporters (SLCGE) held its 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 21 March in Colombo, reaffirming its dedication to strengthening the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) apparel export sector.

Industry veteran Bandula Fernando was re-elected as President of the SLCGE, marking another term of leadership for the seasoned professional. In his address, Fernando expressed gratitude for the continued trust placed in him and emphasised the Chamber’s commitment to navigating industry challenges while driving sustainable growth for SME exporters.

A resilient industry amid challenges

“It is a privilege to serve the SME apparel sector at such a critical juncture,” Fernando stated. He commended Sri Lanka’s SME apparel exporters for their resilience in the face of economic fluctuations and growing global competition, acknowledging the persistent pressures posed by regional players. He also praised the pivotal role of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) for its advocacy and continuous support of the SLCGE.

Reflecting on the past year, Fernando highlighted several key achievements, including successful policy advocacy efforts that led to the easing of operational constraints for SMEs, improved access to financial assistance schemes, and increased market opportunities for Sri Lankan SME apparel products.

Fernando extended his gratitude to the SLCGE Executive Committee, industry partners, and stakeholders for their continuous support.

“With a unified effort, we can empower our SME apparel exporters to thrive in an increasingly complex global market,” he affirmed, setting a determined tone for the year ahead.

Future priorities for SME apparel exporters

Newly appointed Vice President Nishantha Bakmeege addressed the members, highlighting several focus areas to help them meet future challenges by fostering innovation and ensuring that SMEs are equipped to meet global buyer expectations while maintaining cost efficiencies.

For the upcoming year, the SLCGE aims to enhance active member engagement to collectively advocate for SME-friendly policies and strengthen partnerships with trade bodies and international stakeholders to improve preferential trade access. Bakmeege also underscored the importance of digital transformation to create a conducive business environment for SME apparel exporters.

The AGM concluded with a renewed commitment from members to collectively drive industry progress.