By: Staff Writer
January 22, Colombo (LNW): Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), has emphasized the need of Eravur Textile Manufacturing Zone aims to reduce Sri Lanka’s reliance on imported raw materials, cutting foreign exchange outflows and improving supply chain transparency and traceability.
As Sri Lanka’s tourism industry celebrates a robust resurgence in early January, renewed discussions have emerged about prioritizing tourism investment. However, concerns have been raised about diverting resources from critical initiatives like the Eravur Textile Manufacturing Zone, a long-awaited project essential to the apparel sector’s sustainability and growth.
Spanning 300 acres in Eravur, Batticaloa the zone is designed to support various textile manufacturing verticals, including dyeing, washing, knitting, and weaving.
It features modern amenities like a centralized wastewater treatment plant with pre-cleared environmental approvals, ensuring environmental compliance.
This dedicated facility, conceptualized by the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), aims to reduce Sri Lanka’s reliance on imported raw materials, cutting foreign exchange outflows and improving supply chain transparency and traceability.
Sri Lanka’s apparel industry, which accounted for 5.8% of GDP in 2023 and generated $4.8 billion in revenue, is the nation’s largest industrial export sector.
With 52.6% of all industrial exports originating from the apparel sector, the industry remains a cornerstone of economic stability and employment, particularly for the blue-collar workforce.
The Eravur zone promises to enhance value addition, as demonstrated by initiatives like the Fabric Park in Thulhiriya, which has already increased domestic fabric availability and improved value addition to around 55%.
Global markets, particularly in the EU, UK, and USA, are increasingly demanding supply chain transparency and sustainable practices. By operationalizing the Eravur zone, Sri Lanka can align with these evolving regulations, positioning its apparel sector as a leader in sustainable and high-value manufacturing.
The zone’s strategic implementation could enable the country to meet ambitious export targets, provide higher-skilled job opportunities, and foster innovation within the industry.
Significant progress has already been made, with investments commencing in Eravur. Notably, Jay Jay Textiles Lanka Ltd. has committed to fabric manufacturing and processing for export.
However, for the initiative to reach its full potential, the government must maintain its momentum, engaging stakeholders to attract further investment and optimize the remaining space within the zone.
The JAAF has emphasized that the industry cannot sustain growth by relying on past strategies. Instead, Sri Lanka must position itself as a leading destination for sustainable ready-made garments and cutting-edge textile solutions. By doing so, the nation can diversify into higher-value products and categories, reinforcing its global competitiveness.
With regulatory changes in key markets expected to intensify by 2030, the operational success of the Eravur Textile Zone is crucial for Sri Lanka to meet these challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
JAAF argues that this project is vital to the future of Sri Lanka’s apparel sector, which has been instrumental in navigating the economic crises of recent years, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the financial struggles of 2022.
The Eravur zone represents more than a manufacturing hub—it is a gateway to securing the apparel industry’s role as a driver of Sri Lanka’s economic growth in the decades ahead. By doubling down on this initiative, the government can ensure that Sri Lanka Apparel continues to thrive as a global leader in innovation, sustainability, and value addition.
