The Sri Lanka High Commission’s Trade Division together with the Export Development Board, the European Chamber of Commerce and the East Midlands Textile Association organized a series of buyer – seller appointments facilitating the 17 member Apparel Delegation to export a wider range of clothing ranging from women fashion-wear, mens' clothing, lingerie to childrens' wear to the the UK market.

Inaugurating the London programme of the exporters at the Marylebone Hotel, attended by prominent representatives of UK business and industry, Sri Lanaka High Commissioner in London, Justice Nihal Jayasinghe noted that the UK being the largest market in the EU with around 30% of Sri Lanka’s total apparel exports accounts for 80% of Sri Lanka’s total exports to the UK at US$1 bn. The reliance of employment generation and socio-economic empowerment of rural people on the apparel sector is high and the apparel sector in Sri Lanka is constantly meeting the challenges of competition in the the global market place with new strategies involving higher value added products, marketing, human resource development, ethical manufacturing and technological innovations. The dynamism of the apparel industry in Sri Lanka is continually evolving and developing without undue reliance on preferential tariffs.

The Garments of Sri Lanka (GO Sri Lanka) Delegation has considerably boosted the image of the Garment Industry of Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom. It is the first time over a decade that a major initiative of this nature has been undertaken in the UK particularly to assist the small and medium industries in the apparel sector with a promotional thrust involving a dedicated web site, GO SRI LANKA logo and brochures, publications and apparel media attention. The London College of Fashion also contributed in making this event a success.

It is reported that the GO Sri Lanka promotions in Manchester following after the Spot Light on Manchester event conducted during August this year by the Sri Lanka Mission, London, during the visit of Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of International trade to the UK met with very successful outcomes for the delegation