Sri Lanka’s Export Development and International Trade Minister Professor G L Peiris urged the United States to provide preferential access for apparel products from Sri Lanka into its markets.

Addressing a combined gathering of the United States Chamber of Commerce and the American Apparel and Footwear Association, in Washington, Professor Peiris drew attention to the achievements of the apparel industry in Sri Lanka in the last few years.

He said that American purchases of apparel products accounted for almost 45% of Sri Lanka’s exports, while the industry accounted for 8% of the country’s GDP.

Sri Lanka, he said, has no sweat-shops, forced labour, child labour, or oppressive working hours. It currently supplies garments to some of the top brands in the US.

Around 350,000 people in Sri Lanka depend for their livelihood directly on the apparel industry. Almost a million people are indirectly dependent on it. 

Peiris urged premier American apparel associations to use their good offices to prevail on members of Congress to support concessions for Sri Lanka.

He said that political stability in the conflict-ridden country would come through economic stability, and that the United States should support efforts in this regard.

July 3, 2007