An employee of the Broadway Kids (Pvt) Ltd apparel factory checks the diesel can while refilling the generator during a seven-hour power outage at the factory in a suburb of Colombo. - REUTERS photo

• Industry goes extra mile to fuel generators amid 10-hour long power cuts to ensure uninterrupted operations
• Says order books full but production hampered by production issues due to power cuts
• JAAF cautions SL failing to deliver orders on time will result in clients losing confidence 

By Shabiya Ali Ahlam
As industries are on the brink of cracking under the pressure of having to deal with the ongoing fuel shortages and power cuts, Sri Lanka’s apparel sector has extended a proposal to the authorities to procure diesel paying on US dollar. The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) told Mirror Business yesterday that an offer was made to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) to purchase the fuel paying in dollars. However, the proposal hasn’t been accepted. “The apparel sector is at a crucial time of the year and it is imperative that we keep our production going without any interruptions. To power generators that help us continue our processes during a power cut, we made the offer to CPC, said JAAF Secretary General Yohan Lawrance.

However, he shared that a resolution to that offer might not come through.
“Situation in the apparel industry is now dire. The lack of diesel and extended power cuts are now seriously affecting the ability of plants to continue manufacturing. At a time where shipments need to be effected before the April holidays, this is a serious blow to the industry,” Lawrance added.

Lawrance confirmed that the sector is in no way short of orders. Following the opening of the country from the restrictions imposed to contain the COVID-19 virus, the apparel sector at present has a full order book. 
However, it is unable to reap the benefits of the steady order flow as it faces manufacturing challenges due to shortages in utilities.

“The industry is very worried. We need to have these orders done and shipped. We are unsure how things will roll out,” shared Lawrance.

 The authorities have assured that the industrial zones will not be subjected to power cuts. Despite that, there is no certainty of having no interruptions, according to the JAAF leadership.  Lawrance cautioned that manufacturers failing to meet the deadline would not augur well for the apparel sector. The foreign clients could lose confidence in the ability of the Sri Lankan apparel sector and could move on to competitors, he stressed.