Country: Sri Lanka

Hirdaramani Group – the Sri Lankan apparel manufacturing giant has set up its 21st facility in Mullaitivu Sri Lanka, and the 35th facility in its global portfolio. Boasting of a fully-integrated infrastructure, the unit is equipped with manufacturing, product development, design, printing, embroidery, washing and packaging facilities.

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Fully-owned and operated by the Hirdaramani Group, the unit’s setup has been supplemented with CSR and sustainability programmes in the region. A training centre has also been set up to provide employees with the skills they need to fulfil a cross-section of roles in the factory. The training centre through specially tailored programmes, helps motivate staff and provides them with the knowledge and training they need to excel in their jobs, it also helps them to strengthen a variety of skills.

Textured Jersey Lanka (TJL) has acquired Quenby Lanka Prints (Pvt.) Ltd. “In February 2015, TJL initiated the valuation and due diligence study for the potential acquisition and subsequent to discussions, a purchase price of US $ 3.5 million was agreed upon. Reflecting the strength of a strong balance sheet, the entire consideration is due to be paid out in cash to the shareholders of Quenby Lanka in order to acquire the shares of the company,” as per the release from TJL.

The acquisition is expected to boost the business integration process and take TJL to the next level of solutions and innovation.

Recently a fire broke out in the premises of Sri Lankan apparel manufacturing factory Brandix located in the Board of Investment’s export processing zone in Katunayake. Reportedly, the fire broke out around 7.30 am on 13 April 2015. It was doused with the assistance of the Katunayake Police and the fire brigade units of the Board of Investment and Aviation Services Department. The cause of the fire or the extent of damages has not been ascertained yet.

Sri Lankan Hayleys MGT Knitting Mills, the fabric subsidiary of Hayleys Group has reportedly launched its own knitted fabrics brand called INNO. The brand was launched through the company’s own Innovation Centre, in order to supply new fashion value-added and functional fabric requirements to the current market. “We aim to take the company to the next level in the fabric industry. With the launch of ‘Inno’ we have become the top Innovation Centre for weft knitted fabrics locally,” Rohan Goonetilleke, MD, Hayleys MGT said. Hayleys MGT Knitting Mills, located at a 34 acre site at Narthupana Estate in Horana, is a diversified fabric mill with a capacity of 1,000 tonnes/month to knit, dye and finish all types of knitted fabrics such as cottons, cotton blends, polyester, polyester blends, viscose and micro modals. It also has the capability of in-house printing with 16 colour printing machines, fabric brushing machines and suedeing machines.

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As per the data released by Economics Research Department of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the export of textiles and garments from Sri Lanka increased by 9.4 per cent to US $ 4.929 billion in 2014 as  compared to exports of US $ 4.508 billion in 2013.  The 9.4 per cent growth rate registered by the textiles and garment exports was greater than 6.5 per cent and 7 per cent growth rates witnessed by Sri Lankan industrial exports and total exports during the year, the data showed.  Textiles and clothing constituted 59.75 per cent of Sri Lankan industrial exports and 44.34 per cent of all exports made by Sri Lanka in 2014.  On the other hand, the import of textiles and textile articles by Sri Lanka grew by 13.8 per cent to US $ 2.327 billion in 2014, as against imports of US $ 2.045 billion made in the previous year.