Minister Prof. G.L.Peiris told a gathering of Apparel exporters, "your commitment and compliance to environmental standards  have placed your industry above board within turbulent forces in the International market". Kumar Devapura made his presentation on the industry and its challenges.The Minister in his address said that the apparel exporters have complied with all the standards required in the industry. When going to the village you have not gone there as an external phenomenon. You have shouldered some social responsibilities in the awakening of the rural village and to contributed to eradicate unemployment in the village. You had a holistic image and good intentions to upgrade the village community. Your industry has helped to narrow the social disparity prevailing there. The Minister said that the per capita income of a person here is around US$ 1650/= which is now nearing countries in the region. Although our per capita indication is satisfactory, the access to opportunity is limited. This causes social  unrest. 

 Commenting on a remark made by an Apparel exporter, the Minster responded that an economist of international repute, predicted that when the multi fiber agreement ceased, the apparel industry and its survival was in jeopardy. Instead the apparel export community has contributed to high quality apparel for the market by the vision of your Leaders. I am telling you, that we would have not continued even under the quota system because it is something artificial which was meant for that time.

 You changed the system and went for a value added production. You also harnessed human resources in the industry to the full. You also had planned on the non dependence on imports to a great extent and that is the corner stone of your success. Commenting on the GSP the Minister said that no body has all the answers to a problem. There are different ways of solving a problem. In the international scenario some commercial Banks are on the verge of collapse.  Conventional wisdom has failed. The traditional ways of thinking keep on changing. The govt. has the obligation to protect life and limb , security and freedom. The Minister congratulates the apparel sector for the excellence they have achieved in the industry and the reasons why they should celebrate.