Apparel Exporters Association reappoints Rajitha Jayasuriya as Chair

SLAEA Executive Committee and officials (from left): Treasurer Hasib Omar, Immediate Past Chairperson Indika Liyanahewage, Chairperson Rajitha Jayasuriya, Acting Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, Oniverse Founder Dr. Sandro Veronesi, Joint Apparel Association Forum Chairperson Felix Fernando and Deputy Chairperson Jeevith Senaratne 

From left: Ambassador for Italy in Sri Lanka Damiano Francovigh, MAS Holdings Deputy Chairman and Co-Founder Sharad Amalean, Riccardo Romani of Oniverse Group, US Embassy Sri Lanka Deputy Chief of Mission Jayne Howell, Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe and Hirdaramani Group Chairman Vinod Hirdramani​

Sets 2026 agenda on GSP+, FTAs and digitalisation

The Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) recently at Cinnamon Life Hotel, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers and the diplomatic community to review sector priorities and reinforce Sri Lanka’s position in global apparel supply chains. 
At the AGM, Rajitha Jayasuriya was reappointed as Chairperson for a second term, alongside the newly appointed Executive Committee comprising Jeevith Senaratne as Deputy Chairperson, Hasib Omar as Treasurer and Indika Liyanahewage as Immediate Past Chairperson. 
In her address, Jayasuriya pointed to the sector’s resilience in 2025, noting that apparel exports grew by 5.42 percent to reach US $ 5.019 billion, with exports to the European Union rising 12.48 percent and non-traditional markets recording a 4.8 percent increase. 
She said, “As we work to expand in Europe, the renewal of GSP+ must be treated as a national priority because it protects the momentum and safeguards the access to one of our most important growing markets. With India having sealed its FTA with the EU, we will need to mobilise faster, to ensure Sri Lanka is not left behind.” 
She also called for a wider competitiveness agenda beyond market access, including a dedicated trade office to prioritise key FTAs, faster export facilitation through the Single Window system and ETA, predictable fiscal administration including VAT refunds and accelerated digital reforms such as the move towards a fiscalised e-invoicing system, building on the ongoing industry pilot integrating an API with RAMIS 2.0. 
The AGM was attended by chief guest Acting Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, representing High Commissioner Santosh Jha and guest of honour Oniverse Group Founder Dr. Sandro Veronesi. Proceedings included remarks by the chief guest and guest of honour, the chairperson’s address and the launch of the SLAEA’s revamped website.  Special guests included Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, alongside the members of the diplomatic community including Damiano Francovigh, Rémi Lambert, Jayne Howell, Mohammad Ramadan and Dr. Johanne Hess. 
The AGM also recognised the presence of the Joint Apparel Association Forum representatives Felix Fernando and Yohan Lawrence, underscoring continued industry alignment on trade, competitiveness and export reform priorities.