The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), the leading body for Sri Lanka's apparel industry, recently held its 19th Annual General Meeting, where industry veteran Sharad Amalean was re-appointed as Chairman. The Executive Committee was also unanimously re-elected, including Saifudeen Jafferjee and Felix Fernando as Deputy Chairmen.

In his Chairman's address, Amalean emphasized the importance of bringing in new, young leaders to drive the industry beyond 2025. He noted that JAAF's credibility has helped the industry work closely with the government and relevant authorities, contributing to a favorable business environment. Despite challenges faced in 2022, the textile and apparel sector recorded a turnover of LKR 5.5 billion.

Aroon Hirdaramani, past Chairman of the Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association, warned that 2023 will be a challenging year, with luxury brands expected to perform better than others. JAAF Secretary General Yohan Lawrence highlighted vital policy priorities and expressed concern over Sri Lanka's declining market share in the face of growing competition from Bangladesh.

JAAF is pushing for relaxation on rules of origin for the EU's GSP+ and UK's DCTS schemes. The AGM was also attended by JAAF's constituent associations, who thanked JAAF for its leadership during trying times and urged authorities to reassess measures affecting the industry's competitiveness.