Sri Lanka's apparel exports surge to May record, handloom sector set for growth

Sri Lanka's apparel and textile industry posted its strongest monthly performance of 2026 in May, with export value reaching US$394.14 million – a 7.96% year‑on‑year increase. The United States was the principal driver, accounting for the bulk of the demand and helping the sector, a major foreign‑exchange earner that employs hundreds of thousands of workers, most of them women.

At the same time, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe highlighted the handloom sector as an "industry of the future" during the "Art of Weaving" workshop. The event, co‑organized by the Export Development Board and the University of Moratuwa, called for higher product quality, innovation and private‑sector investment to turn Sri Lankan handloom weaving into a sustainable export industry with unique designs for global markets.