Sri Lanka
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka │ ශ්රී ලංකා ප්රජාතාන්ත්රික සමාජවාදී ජනරජය │ இலங்கை சனநாயக சோசலிசக் குடியரசு
The textile and garment industry is of overall economic importance to Sri Lanka. The industry accounted for over 40 per cent of exports in 2023 and provides employment for more than 300,000 workers (2024) in the formal sector and about twice that number in the informal sector. The majority of employees are women at nearly 70 per cent.
In May 2017, after a seven-year hiatus, the European Union's (EU) Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status was reactivated for Sri Lanka. Positive impetus is already evident: in 2018, the country increased its total exports of textiles and garments by nearly 4.8 per cent. Many domestic textile producers are switching to producing high-quality garments to maintain their competitiveness, rather than focusing on mass production. Manufacturing is now focusing on fewer product categories, such as underwear or sportswear. The ambitious goal is to increase the export revenues of the apparel industry to US$8 billion by 2025, which requires an annual growth rate of 6 per cent.
Population
Total
21,893,579 (2023)
Gross Domestic Product
GDP per Capita (constant USD, thousand)
$3,988.10 (2022)
Human Development Index Ranking
HDI Rank (out of 191 countries)
78 (2022)
Garment/Textile Workers
Number of workers in the garment/textile sector
300,000 (2024)
Women Workers in the Garment/Textile Industry
Percentage of women workers employed in the garment/textile industry
69.6% (2023)
Number of Garment/Textile Factories
Number of factories in the garment/textile industry
300 manufacturers (2024)
Garment/Textile Industry Exports
(USD$ billion)
USD 4.535 billion (2023)
Garment/Textile Industry Size
Percentage of total exports
41.82% (2023)
Minimum Wage
Monthly minimum wage in USD
USD 49 ≅ LKR16,000 (2024)
Key Garment/Textile Export Markets
Top five countries ($USD value exported and subsequent percentage)
| Country | Percentage of Exports |
|---|---|
| United States | 39.94% |
| United Kingdom | 13.82% |
| Italy | 12.43% |
| Germany | 5.36% |
| Netherlands | 4.01% |
Government Entities
Government agencies actively involved in the garment/textile industry
Worker Organizations
Trade unions, Union federations, and other worker organizations
- Free Trade Zone and General Services Employees Union
- Textile, Garment and Clothing Workers Union
- Ceylon Mercantile Industrial and General Workers Union
- Commercial and Industrial Workers Union
Employer/Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce
Employers and industry related associations, private sectors associations and chambers of commerce
Development Agencies/ International Organizations
National and international development organizations working within the garment/textile industry
Civil Society Organizations/ Non-governmental Organizations
Organizations working within the garment/textile industry
Sources of data provided
- Population: https://population.un.org/dataportal/data/indicators/49/locations/586,50,116,608,764,144,704/start/2023/end/2023/table
- GDP Per Capita: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.KD?locations=LK
- HDI: https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data#/countries/LKA
- Garment / Textile Workers: https://www.srilankabusiness.com/apparel/about/#:~:text=The%20apparel%20industry%20provides%20direct%20employment%20opportunities%20to%20over%20300%2C000%20and%20600%2C000%20indirectly.
- Women Workers in the Garment /Textile Industry: https://www.ilo.org/infostories/en-GB/Stories/discrimination/garment-gender#the-global-garment-industry-a-bird%E2%80%99s-eye-view-(1)
- Number of Garment / Textile Factories: https://www.srilankabusiness.com/ebooks/industry-capability-report-apparel-2024.pdf
- Garment / Textile Industry Export: https://www.srilankaapparel.com/apparel_exports/2023/
-
Garment / Textile Industry Size: https://www.srilankabusiness.com/apparel/about/export-performance.html
- Minimum Wage: https://wageindicator.org/salary/minimum-wage/sri-lanka/39697-national-minimum-wage (Sri Lanka a minimum wage of LKR16,000 (USD 49.26) per month with effect from August 16, 2021 (2024))
- Key Garment / Textile Export Market (2023): https://www.srilankaapparel.com/data-center/market-wise-performance/
News on Sri Lanka
Source Fashion 2024 to debut three new sourcing countries
UK responsible sourcing show Source Fashion expects to double in size in 2024 with more than 320 exhibitors from around the world, including three new sourcing destinations.
Read MoreSri Lanka’s eco-friendly apparel manufacturing surges with GOTS certification uptick
The Joint Apparel Association (JAAF) has observed a growing pattern within Sri Lanka's apparel manufacturing industry, with an increasing number of companies opting to adopt the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
Read MoreRMG makers plan Tk9,000 monthly wages
The readymade garment (RMG) makers are planning to propose Tk 9,000 monthly wages for grade 7 workers to the Minimum Wages Board, despite the workers’ demand for Tk 23,000 per month.
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