At the 25th Presidential Export Awards Ceremony in Sri Lanka, Hela Apparel Holdings PLC was given the esteemed Sectoral Award for Best Exporter – Medium Category and the distinguished Overall Award for Best Exporter in Product Diversification.
Under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremasinghe of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the ceremony took place on November 23.
A.R. Rasiah, Chairman of Hela garment Holdings PLC, said, “It gives me immense pleasure to have received these awards on behalf of Hela.” He said, “It’s been a challenging couple of years for the apparel manufacturing sector in Sri Lanka, and it has been no different for Hela.” We have remained strong in our commitment to expansion across our global footprint, extending our products and forging international alliances with like-minded parties despite the difficult global operating climate. This acknowledgment strengthens our position in the industry and is a direct result of the Hela Group’s global efforts, diligence, and hard work.
The yearly occasion honored the top achievers in the nation’s export industry for the fiscal years 2022–2023 and 2021–2022. The event, which was split into two main categories, honored exceptional accomplishments in a range of export-related fields with 13 Overall Awards and 51 Products and Services Sector Awards.
In compliance with the current Government Policy Framework and recently developed export-oriented policies, a renowned group of judges, chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge, carefully evaluated organizations. They evaluated exports that included market and product diversification, innovation, value addition, introduction of indigenous brands to international markets, sustainable export initiatives, development of regional value chains, and other notable export-related contributions.
In regard to the accomplishment, Viraj Fernando, CEO of Hela garment Holdings PLC’s Private Label Division, offered his thoughts: “We must look beyond the traditional norms of apparel manufacturing and be willing to offer customers an unappareled service and end-to-end solutions in today’s industry context.” Hela has been striving to broaden its global partnerships by introducing innovative ideas and providing exceptional product and design offerings, with a focus on speed solutions. This approach has enabled the company to maintain operations and reach significant milestones, even in the face of a challenging global operating environment. The market is becoming more and more competitive.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board organized the awards ceremony, which drew in over 1,500 attendees including ministers, government officials, diplomats, well-wishers, and exporters. The event was a success.
It is important to note that Hela Apparel Holdings PLC is a social capital-focused business that was founded on the values of equity, inclusivity, and climatic stability. With more than thirty years of experience in the field, Hela concentrates on forming strategic alliances with international companies to offer clothing supply chain solutions that stand out from the competition. With ten production sites spread throughout Sri Lanka, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Egypt and design centres situated in Sri Lanka, the US, the UK, and France, the organization employs approximately 20,000 people directly.
