'Much potential in leather industry'

Sunday Observer - 08/02/2015
By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

The footwear and leather industry in Sri Lanka has been identified as a value added manufacturing sector that has taken up the role of generating export revenue and employment opportunities.

“It is necessary to strengthen and sustain the image of the footwear and leather industry as it has the potential to become a vital component in the export revenue basket," said Sri Lanka Export Development Board Chairman Bandula Egodage at the launch of the Footwear and Leather Fair 2015 at the BMICH on Friday.

This is the seventh edition of the fair.

Sri Lanka a haven for medical tourism

Daily News - 07/02/2015

Think Sri Lanka and some of the things that come to mind are Asian elephants and Ceylon tea. Delve deeper and you'll discover a nation of rich heritage and wonders including lush greenery, monasteries, palaces, temples and theatres.

The country is among the beauties of the sub-continent that features a peaceful environment and a hard-working community.

Among ancient cities, a visit to Anuradhapura is a must as it holds the title as a sacred city by Buddhists around the world. Kandy is a scene to behold. With spiralling roads and refreshing environment, Kandy is especially beautiful around the Monsoon season when cool temperatures call to unwind with a warm cup of Ceylon tea.

Sri Lanka’s footwear and leather exports double within a year

Daily FT - 07/02/2015

• EDB’s 7th Footwear & Leather Fair opens in Colombo
• 'F&L exports surge to $ 110 m’-Rishad
• ‘Thanks to new processing zone’-Industry
• ‘Real value addition here is fashion’-EDB Chairman/CEO Egodage

Sri Lanka’s footwear and leather exports have doubled within just one year and posted the highest revenues so far in recent times.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce said the sector believed the surge was due in large part to the construction of a modern tannery complex.

“Today I am pleased to announce that the $ 51 million export revenue in 2013 from this sector has more than doubled in 2014 to $ 110 million, showing this sector’s strong revenue potential. This performance supports the export promotion efforts of the 100-day program of President Maithripala Sirisena as well,” said Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen while speaking in Colombo yesterday. Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the seventh edition of the annual Footwear and Leather Fair, organised by EDB and held at the BMICH.

Need to diversify export items and destinations

Sri Lanka, since colonial era, has been playing a significant part in international trade.As a country that is blessed with natural resources, the main reason as to why imperialists came to this tiny island was its export-oriented natural resources such as spices mainly cinnamon. Since then, exports of this nation have been primary and not value-added. It ought to be mentioned here that with the introduction of the open economic policy in 1977, imports began to play an important role in the Sri Lankan economy. However, Sri Lanka has become a country that imports more and exports less, resulting in balance of payment crisis. The country has been exporting to the limited number of markets such as Middle East, USA and EU. It remains important to note here that Sri Lanka has brushed aside some emerging markets like Latin America. Furthermore, some fluctuations can also be seen in Sri Lankan export sector, majority of which have a bad impact on the economy. It was recently reported that European Commission decided to impose a ban fish exports from Sri Lanka to the European Union (EU), as Sri Lanka had not taken effective measures to tackle illegal fishing. The state of affairs is worse, as Sri Lanka is the second largest fish exporter to the EU. What has to be done is that fish exporters have to find out new markets.

Lanka needs to project itself as an IT-BPO destination

Sunday Observer - 01/02/2015
By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

Sri Lanka is fast emerging as a global IT–BPO destination in the world. However, it is necessary to promote and enhance the significant contribution that digital technology can make to Sri Lanka’s economic prosperity, Chairman Federation of Information Technology Sri Lanka. Chintaka Wijewickrama told Sunday Observer Business.

.“We need to look into certain things as the industry needs to progress in a rapid manner.

Fish exports: EU ban to cost US$ 100mn

Nation.lk - 01/02/2015

Sri Lanka is likely to lose an estimated US$ 100 million annually due to the recently imposed ban on fish exports from Sri Lanka to the European Union (EU), a local think tank said last week.Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Dr. Saman Kelegama addressing the 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) stated that Sri Lanka had earned US$ 94 million in 2013 by exporting 7,400 tons of fish, but the amount was projected to increase this year. The ban was put in place as Sri Lanka had not taken effective measures to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.  However, a top official from the Export Development Board, Sri Lanka’s apex organization for the promotion and development of exports said they were yet to estimate the loss resulting from the ban imposed on Sri Lanka by the European Commission (EC).

Tea industry brews highest ever exports

Daily FT - 28/01/2015

Turkey displaces Russia as the single largest market for Sri Lanka
In a major boost, the country’s tea industry has achieved an all-time high export performance both in volume and value.

Ceylon Tea Brokers said yesterday that cumulative Sri Lanka tea exports for the period January/December 2014 recorded 327.87m kgs thus recording an all time high surpassing the previous highest of 327.41m kgs in 2006. January/December 2013 recorded a quantity of 319.66 m kgs.