Sri Lanka’s Knitline Apparels to set up high-tech facility

A high-tech sustainable knitwear manufacturing plant is to be set up in Sri Lanka, with the ambition of ensuring zero waste.

By Michelle Russell

A high-tech sustainable knitwear manufacturing plant is to be set up in Sri Lanka, with the ambition of ensuring zero waste.

Sri Lankan Knitline Apparels signed an agreement with the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka for the facility, which will specialise in the manufacture of flat knit fashion apparel. Specifically, it will produce knitwear such as pullovers, dresses, sweaters and beanies.

The company is planning to use modern machinery and technology developed in Japan to manufacture its products. The factory will be situated in Wattala with factory space of 12,000 square feet, enabling employment of an initial workforce of 80 people.

Riz Onies, CEO of Knitline Apparels, said: “We want to create a truly sustainable system with zero inventory loss, zero leftovers, and zero waste.”

The agreement was signed by Susantha Ratnayake, Chairman of the Board of Investment and Riz Onies chief executive officer of Knitline Apparels.

The garment sector is Sri Lanka’s largest export industry, accounting for nearly 40%.

Last month, HSBC and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) embarked on a joint project to help transition the country’s garment sector into a low carbon industry.