In the next five years, the newly elected Sri Lankan government aims to focus on increasing the production of batik, handlooms and local garments. State-owned textile trading institutions such as Lanka Salu Sala will facilitate market expansion for the industry, said Gotabaya Rajapaksha, President.

In a recent discussion, the President urged the public to remain the main stakeholders in its vision to create a public-centric economy. Rajapaksha named the garment industry as pioneer in employment generation and regional development, noting that exports from the garment industry account to 43 per cent of total exports accumulating an annual income of nearly $ 5 billion to the country.

He stressed that it is of utmost importance to further the local economy while the rest of the world recovers from a global pandemic. The discussion was attended by Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa, State Minister for Batik, Handlooms and Local Garments Dayasiri Jayasekara, Secretary to the President, P B Jayasundera, Secretary to the Treasury S R Attygalle and several entrepreneurs related to batik, handlooms and local garments.