Sri Lanka’s Small and Medium Garments Exporters Association (SMGEA) recently claimed it has not received the relief package agreed to by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the government. SMGEA president Bandula Fernando alleged that despite Rajapaksa’s order not to impose delay charges on goods at the Colombo port, some officers don’t heed to the directives.
It has been very difficult for SMGEA member firms to obtain the financial concessions announced by the government because all their assets have been mortgaged to the banks. The banks are also granting this loan only for the payment of salaries for the months of April and May, which is clearly not enough to overcome the tough times, Fernando told journalists.Sri Lanka's Small and Medium Garments Exporters Association (SMGEA) recently claimed it has not received the relief package agreed to by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the government. SMGEA president Bandula Fernando alleged that despite Rajapaksa's order not to impose delay charges on goods at the Colombo port, some officers don't heed to the directives.#
He said some of the members are struggling to pay the salaries for the month of March as buyers have already suspended payments for goods exported.
“The chairman of the Ports Authority is following the President’s directives, but some officers in lower ranks are not ready to release our goods without an ‘extra fee’ for the delays, which were caused due to the curfew. It’s highly unfair,” Fernando was quoted as saying by Sri Lankan media reports.
With no source of income, SMGEA members are also unable to repay their capital loans.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
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