UK Trade Envoy visits MAS Holdings to strengthen bilateral ties
Daily FT: UK Trade Envoy to Sri Lanka Lord John Hannett of Everton last week visited MAS Holdings’ Silueta facility in Biyagama.
The visit, facilitated by the British High Commission, aimed to offer the UK delegation a deeper understanding of Sri Lanka’s apparel industry and MAS’ contribution to it.
During the visit, Lord Hannett and representatives from the UK’s Department for Business and Trade were briefed on the importance of Sri Lanka’s apparel sector to the country’s export economy, as well as of MAS’ global presence, product innovation, and commitment to sustainability. This was followed by a walkthrough of the facility, showcasing MAS’ product and tech capabilities.
Among the officials present were UK Department for Business and Trade UK Trade Envoy Relationship Manager – APAC and South Asia Shameema Yusuf, British High Commission Colombo Director of Trade – Sri Lanka Mara Waters, and Deputy Head of Trade and Investment Asanthi Fernando. They were accompanied by MAS Holdings Director – Corporate Affairs Rajitha Jayasuriya and MAS Silueta Chief Executive Officer Ranesh Handunnetti.
Lord John Hannett expressed his appreciation for the scientific and technical expertise that goes into creating high quality garments and, experienced first-hand, MAS’ product craftsmanship and process innovation. He also commended MAS for its strong foundation of values, appreciating how the company maintains these principles even when operating across different countries and cultures.
The engagement is a timely step towards strengthening bilateral trade ties and further positioning Sri Lanka as a hub for responsible apparel innovation and a strategic sourcing partner to the UK.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s apparel sector plays a prominent role in the country’s exports industry and serves as a key revenue generator to the country. The recent visit to a large-scale Sri Lankan apparel manufacturing end export facility by a UK trade envoy shows the strong trade ties local businesses enjoy with foreign markets as well as the growth potential. Sri Lanka’s geographical positioning, the strong trade ties enjoyed with many foreign countries and the business conducive environment along with incentive schemes offered by local authorities have all resulted in the strength and growth of the country’s apparel manufacturing and exports sectors. All these factors have also resulted in the expansion of business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s exports industry, especially the apparel manufacturing and exports sectors. These opportunities are manifold and range from direct and indirect ones with special focus currently being placed on developing technologies to meet the fast-evolving requirements of the global markets. The growth, profits and expansions recorded by local businesses in the apparel manufacturing and exports sectors are indicative of the further growth and business potential of these sectors. Foreign businesses/investors could therefore confidently explore the expanding opportunities in Sri Lanka’s apparel manufacturing and exports sectors while also exploring the possibilities of expanding operations through local collaborations.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20250612/Z_2 |