According to Rehan Lakhani, Chairman, Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA), though the Sri Lankan apparel sector is showing signs of recovery from the impacts of the pandemic, with the lockdowns being carefully lifted across the world, no confirmed orders have come through as yet that would allow factories to operate at full capacity, from August onwards.

Thus a majority of the manufacturers would operate their factories at a loss, even though they would function at reduced capacities. But their fixed costs would remain the same, placing them at a vulnerable position, Lakhani says. Factories are embracing this reality and trying to survive the crisis period and are looking to get back to normalcy. While a collective effort from the industry is not possible to secure orders for Sri Lanka, Lakhani said that individual companies are doing what it takes to pull as many orders as possible.