SLABA says 2026 Budget evens playing field for Sri Lankan fashion brands

THE Sri Lanka Apparel Brands Association (SLABA), representing all leading Sri Lankan apparel and fashion brands, said it enthusiastically welcomes the Budget, which addresses the majority of the industry’s key requests to strengthen the domestic apparel ecosystem, particularly regarding VAT and SMEs.

- 

It commended the Government for responding decisively to industry concerns, particularly the implementation of VAT on imported fabrics, a critical measure advocated by local manufacturers to ensure fair competition and the reduction of the VAT threshold demonstrates a clear commitment to protecting domestic value chains.