MAS knits success into fabric landscape:

Growing demand to be met

Rohan MATHES in Thulhiriya

Sri Lanka is becoming an apparel sourcing hub, observed the Chairman of MAS Holdings Mahesh Amalean. He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of South Asia’s first ever textile and apparel industrial park and warp knit facility at Thulhiriya on Friday.

Chairman Amale- an said that the launch of the MAS Fabric Park (MFP) was just one of their contributions towards their vision, by positioning the supply chain of the country’s apparel industry as a one-stop-shop for all apparel solutions.

Their partnership with DOGI would help to supply the growing demand for warp knit in the region and enhance Sri Lanka’s competitiveness.

MAS Holdings had been in the apparel industry as a retailer for around 30 years during which they had built-up a reputation in the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom for world-class products.

“We had conformed to the highest ethical norms and all international labour standards. We had always taken great care to protect the environment,” he added.

Investment Promotion Minister Navin Dissanayake said that this was a historic occasion, where a strategic partnership between the Government and the private sector has been established.

Minister Dissanayake stated: “MAS Holdings have invested in people and communities and have looked after the people, uplifting and nourishing them.”

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama stated he was fully confident of the success of the MAS Chairman Amalean who was an entrepreneur of the highest calibre.

The 165-acre MFP, the former Kabool Lanka Complex, will also include other projects already under way such as MAS Intimates Thurulie - one of the first Green intimate apparel manufacturing facilities catering exclusively to Marks and Spencer (UK), BAM Knitting (Pvt) Ltd. - specialists knitting arm of BAM Holdings PLC specialising in knitted collars, cuffs and hems, and Textprint Lanka - a joint venture fashion textile printing facility between Texprint S.A. (Spain) and MAS Holdings.

MFP is a project of MAS Investments, which manages a similar fabric park in India and operates the MAS Institute of Management and Technology as a centre of excellence encouraging the spirit of innovation.