British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick and Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe visited apparel logistics and quality assurance facilities north of Colombo to observe shipments being prepared for export to the United Kingdom under a newly reformed tariff-free trade scheme .
The visit follows reforms to the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which came into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. The changes allow Sri Lankan manufacturers to source fabrics globally while maintaining duty-free access to the UK market .
According to the British High Commission, the reforms are expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s position as a leading garment sourcing destination, support export diversification and contribute to job creation across apparel manufacturing, logistics and warehousing sectors .
The delegation toured NEXT Sourcing’s Central Inspection Facility, managed by Speedmark, which handles quality assurance and multi-country consolidation for NEXT plc in the UK.
Duty-free access under the DCTS is projected to increase production volumes and enhance competitiveness, with growth expected to exceed 10% .
Wilhelm Elias, Director for NEXT Sourcing Sri Lanka, said the company expanded its global fabric sourcing base in preparation for the reforms, incorporating new materials into upcoming collections to ensure benefits are passed on to UK customers .
The delegation also visited Maersk Sri Lanka’s logistics operations, which support export consolidation for Tesco and other UK apparel brands. Tesco welcomed the reforms, noting they would help Sri Lankan manufacturers develop their businesses while utilising strong local manufacturing standards .
Speedmark and Maersk operations, supported by Aitken Spence Logistics, collectively sustain thousands of direct and indirect jobs in transport, packaging and warehousing .
Officials said the DCTS reforms are expected to drive increased export volumes and strengthen long-term UK–Sri Lanka trade relations. (Newswire)
