The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) recently convened a meeting to explore strategic collaboration to implement the newly launched Initiative for Textile Sustainability Benchmarking (ITSB) a 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 plans 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 Director of GRI South Asia Network, Dr. Aditi Haldar, Director General of the SDCSL, Ms. Chamindry Saparamadu, Secretary General of JAAF, Yohan Lawrence, AGM, Group ESG at Courtaulds Clothing Lanka, Sumith Siriwardena, Chairman and CEO of the EDB, Mangala Wijesinghe,; and senior officials of the EDB and SDC.
As a key next step, the ITSB initiative will launch a targeted capacity-building program on July 16 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.
