EDB partners SDCSL to strengthen SME exporters’ commitment to sustainability and transparency

Wednesday, 25 June 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) recently convened a high-level meeting to explore strategic collaboration for the implementation of the newly launched Initiative for Textile Sustainability Benchmarking (ITSB) a transformative platform aimed at elevating sustainability standards across Sri Lanka’s textile and apparel sector.

The ITSB initiative is a joint effort by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the Sustainable Development Council of Sri Lanka (SDCSL), and the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), with support from the Government of Sweden. It seeks to integrate internationally recognised sustainability standards throughout Sri Lanka’s textile value chain to promote transparency, accountability, and long-term global competitiveness.

The meeting was attended by GRI South Asia Network Director Dr. Aditi Haldar, SDCSL Director General Chamindry Saparamadu, JAAF Secretary General Yohan Lawrence, Courtaulds Clothing Lanka Assistant General Manager, Group ESG Sumith Siriwardena, EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe, and senior officials from both the EDB and SDC.

Saparamadu outlined Sri Lanka’s national sustainability strategy and elaborated on the scope of the ITSB initiative, presenting it as a practical roadmap to enhance ESG compliance and performance. Dr. Haldar emphasised the critical role of the GRI Standards the world’s most widely adopted framework for sustainability reporting in improving transparency in labour practices and the economic impact of exporters. She also highlighted their increasing importance to ESG-conscious global buyers and impact investors.

Welcoming the initiative, EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe reaffirmed the EDB’s strong commitment to embedding sustainability across Sri Lanka’s export landscape. He noted that aligning with frameworks such as GRI would complement the EDB’s ongoing exporter support programs and significantly contribute to achieving the national export target of $ 36 billion by 2030.

As a key next step, the ITSB initiative will launch a targeted capacity-building program on 16 July 2025 for 100 apparel and textile companies including both Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). These sessions will guide participants in adopting GRI-aligned practices to enhance transparency and global competitiveness.

EDB’s involvement in this initiative marks a significant step toward fostering inclusive, responsible, and resilient growth within Sri Lanka’s export sectors. It underscores the country’s commitment to aligning with international ESG frameworks such as IFRS S1 and S2, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), and the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) thereby positioning Sri Lankan exporters as future-ready and globally trusted partners.

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