By: Staff Writer
December 01, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Rohitha Bogollagama, recently met with Marks & Spencer (M&S) Chairman Archie Norman, advocating for an expansion of the retailer’s supply chain in Sri Lanka.
Highlighting the country’s recent positive developments, Bogollagama emphasized Sri Lanka’s potential to become a key supplier of apparel, food products, and other exports to the UK market.
The High Commissioner proposed adding Sri Lankan food products—such as fresh fruits, processed goods, coconut-based items, and Ceylon Tea—to M&S’s sourcing portfolio. He underscored the country’s ability to supply high-quality fruits like mangoes, pineapples, avocados, durians, and soursop sustainably and year-round.
Bogollagama also addressed challenges facing Sri Lankan apparel exports, particularly the stringent rules of origin under the UK’s preferential trade concessions. He urged flexibility from the UK authorities, with the M&S Chairman expressing willingness to support the reconsideration of Sri Lanka’s requests.
Archie Norman reiterated M&S’s interest in consolidating operations across Asia, identifying Sri Lanka as a stable hub for its global supply chain. Additionally, he noted M&S’s efforts to integrate eco-friendly practices into its operations, referencing the “green” apparel factory in Sri Lanka managed by Brandix.
This factory, certified with a LEED rating by the US Green Building Council, employs 1,600 workers and exemplifies sustainable manufacturing. M&S aims to extend its environmental initiatives across its 600 retail outlets and integrate green branding for premium pricing of eco-friendly garments.
This engagement signals opportunities for Sri Lanka to strengthen its economic ties with one of the UK’s leading retailers, leveraging its expertise in sustainable production and high-quality exports.
Sri Lanka High Commissioner in the United Kingdom Rohitha Bogollagama this week met Marks & Spencer (M&S) Chairman Archie Norman and impressed upon him to expand the supply chain from Sri Lanka.
While briefing on the recent positive changes in Sri Lanka, High Commissioner Bogollagama stressed the importance of Sri Lanka being considered for multiple sources of exports to the UK and M&S, covering apparel and the food industry.
Today, M&S has grown to be a multifaceted retailer in the UK, with a gigantic platform for sourcing goods across the world, not only for clothing, fashion products, but also for food items.
High Commissioner Bogollagama invited M&S on the Sri Lanka supply chain to source food as a new area from Sri Lanka, including fresh fruits, processed food, coconut products, and Ceylon Tea being introduced through falling new investment.
With regard to the fresh fruits, the interest of M&S to develop trade links with Sri Lankan high-quality mango, pineapple, avocado, durians, and soursop, and to connect with the M&S supply chain to be sustainable as well as with a year-round supply was mentioned.
