Fabric and Apparel Accessory Manufacturers elect Pubudu as new President for 2020/21

By Charumini de Silva

The Fabric and Apparel Accessory Manufacturers Association (FAAMA) recently held its Annual General Meeting (AGM), where Pubudu de Silva; the Chief Executive Officer of Teejay Lanka PLC was elected as the President for the year 2020/2021.

Dhanushka Fernando, Chief Executive Officer Trischel Fabric Ltd. was elected the Vice Chairman, while Dhananjaya Rajapaksha, Chief Executive Officer of Stretchline Ltd. was elected the Secretary and Samal Dissanaike, Chief Executive Officer of T&S Buttons Ltd. was elected as the Treasurer of FAAMA for the year 2020/2021.

Executive Committee for the year 2020/2021 include Beauno Fernando (Immediate Past Chairman) – Shore to Shore Ltd., Hameed Ashraff (Immediate Past Secretary) – Fantasia Narrow Fabrics Ltd., Sanjay Chandraratna – A&E Thread Lanka Ltd., Lloyd Fernando – Shore to Shore Ltd., Ashiq Lafir – Noyon Lanka Ltd., Rohan Goonetilleke – Hayley’s Fabric PLC and Privthiv Dorai – South Asia Textiles Industries Lanka Ltd.

Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) is the apex body of associations operating within the textile and apparel industry, where FAAMA is operating under its umbrella.

JAAF Chairman A. Sukumaran, JAAF Immediate Past Chairman Sharad Amalean and JAAF Secretary General Tuli Cooray attended the event as special invitees.

FAAMA President Pubudu de Silva speaking at the AGM highlighted importance of setting up a strategy to withstand the challenges post-COVID-19 as the global situation is still very uncertain for the industry.

“The global scenario is very uncertain. How we will face the unknown challenges will determine our future. It is critical to set up our strategy in going forward and we will be able to survive,” he added. He also said that the steps taken today will be for the betterment of the entire industry which can boast about a high value addition industry, rather than an import bias industry.

FAAMA Secretary Dhananjaya Rajapaksha pointed out that the fabric and apparel accessory manufacturers have a critical role to play in this pandemic.

He said the industry should work more on digitalisation, customisation and maintain agility in capacity to stay afloat during these trying times.

JAAF Chairman A. Sukumaran said the important role being played by FAAMA in the total supply chain was clearly felt when they faced the first closure of ports by China as a result of COVID-19.

“The industry could not produce due to non-availability of raw material and we were totally relying on imported inputs. However, those who depend on local fabric base were able to continue to get their supply despite the disturbances that were created,” he added.

He also said that subsequent developments within the country further strengthened the argument for an active role by the FAAMA members as at present the imports are restricted to the maximum.

“The Government is now thinking in terms of domestic production for local consumption and for substitution of imported inputs for export. This makes the role of the FAAMA more meaningful today than was yesterday. Therefore, we are extremely happy that the FAAMA is now getting re-energised to function as an effective today,” Sukumaran said.

Noting that the strength of JAAF lies in the strong associations that are there to come up with various issues that are necessary for the sustainable industry he said, “Revival of FAAMA is of paramount importance to us and we would like to ensure that these efforts be continued with vigour particularly when revival is important.”

Sukumaran called FAAMA’s active participation both at the Executive Committee of the JAAF. “Today we are taking the first step in re-energising the FAAMA with a new management team and the JAAF will be there with its fullest cooperation to ensure that the agenda of the FAAMA will be taken into consideration in our future efforts,” he said.

He also commended the active role played by the Immediate Past President Beauno Fernando and Immediate Past Secretary Hameed Ashraff in upholding the FAAMA for over a decade and for the initiatives, efforts and deliberations at the JAAF.

Pix by Upul Abayasekara