Negating the rumours of caving in of the Sri Lanka’s garment industry, Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said that such rumours were to create a negative image about the country’s economy.
Briefing media at the Government Information Department, he said that revenues from the apparel sector grew by almost 50 percent during last year to US$ 4.2 billion, significantly above revenues worth US$ 790 million generated in 2004.
The Minister said that several requests have been received for setting up new garment units, while most of the existing factories are churning out world-class apparel products. Majority of the workforce in the clothing factories comprises of young women, and the factory owners are ready to fill up the vacancies to better contribute to the national economy.
But, the country’s garment industry is facing a severe dearth of labour, which is a posing big threat to the sector’s development, Mr. Abeywardena said.
There are about 21,000 vacant positions in the Katunayake and Biyagama export zones due to scarcity of labour. Other industrial zones in the country are also enduring severe labour scarcity, he added.
