On 16th March 2026, the management of MAS announced to employees at the Thurulie facility the decision to relocate manufacturing operations of the plant to nearby facilities following the severe damage caused to the plant by Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025. Thurulie is one of the multiple factories operated by MAS and its partners within the MAS Fabric Park (MFP) in Thulhiriya, Sri Lanka.

Despite significant efforts to restore operations, technical assessments indicate that the long-term viability of the facility has been affected by severe damage to the plant and machinery caused by the cyclone. Thurulie has experienced multiple flood events in the past, including the most recent, Ditwah; and assessments indicate a high risk of recurrence due to the low-lying nature of the property and its proximity to surrounding water bodies.

Continuing operations under such conditions would expose employees and operations to repeated disruption and preventable risk. After careful evaluation, MAS has concluded that continuing garment manufacturing at this site is not sustainable in the long term. As such, MAS will relocate the manufacturing operations of the plant and its employees to nearby MAS facilities.

Continued Employment, Compensation, and Support

All employees at Thurulie have been strongly encouraged to continue their employment within MAS’ other manufacturing plants, as Thurulie orders will to be moved to these facilities. Over 500 team members have already taken up temporary placements at nearby facilities in the aftermath of the cyclone, and the management is now working closely with the remaining 1,600 employees to explore the full range of transfer options, offering employees a 3-month salary incentive for relocation. With MAS’ wide network of facilities across Sri Lanka, we are committed to finding the best possible placements, as retaining our experienced teams is important to us and to the customers we continue to serve.

For those who are unable to transfer, or their personal circumstances make it difficult, MAS will provide a compensation package that exceeds legal requirements, along with all statutory dues and benefits. This process is being carried out in full compliance with labour regulations and with the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities.

Manufacturing across all other MAS facilities continue as usual, and the organisation is focused on maintaining operational stability, fulfilling its commitments and delivering reliably to its global customers.

Thurulie’s legacy

Thurulie is an iconic facility for MAS and required 40% less energy and 50% less water at the time it was built and was recognized as the world’s first purpose-built green apparel factory to receive LEED Platinum certification. Featuring a green roof, natural lighting and ventilation, it was here that MAS installed its first roof-mounted solar panels in 2008, a symbol of our early commitment to sustainable manufacturing. It is therefore, saddening that the risk of future climate-related disasters prevents us from safely continuing manufacturing operations at this location.

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Roar Global announced the next phase of its South Asian regional expansion, by deepening its investments in the Bangladesh operations and entering a new exclusive market partnership in Nepal.

The announcement signals Roar Global’s transition to scalable, long-term regional operations, reinforcing its commitment to building sustainable platform advertising infrastructure across emerging South Asian markets.

Building on Roar Global’s decade-long presence in Bangladesh, this next phase of growth will focus on establishing a stronger in-market team, deepening Meta advertising capabilities, and exploring expansion across additional digital platforms.

This phase is centred on strengthening operational depth and enabling sustainable scale within the market.

In Nepal, Roar Global has entered a partnership with Advantage Group, appointing the group as its local operational partner. The strategic alliance is designed to elevate digital advertising standards and scale Meta adoption in the Nepalese market. The partnership aims to expand Meta advertising capabilities, strengthen market education and platform adoption, and improve advertiser performance through structured collaboration. Advantage Group will lead local execution in Nepal, enabling Roar Global to accelerate growth while maintaining platform expertise and consistent delivery standards.

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These developments reflect Roar Global’s broader regional strategy as a venture builder in the mar-tech space — focused on professionalising platform advertising ecosystems and building enduring commercial infrastructure across South Asia.

“Our focus is on long-term viability,” said Dilmini De Silva, Head of Regional Client Partnerships at Roar Global. “We enter markets with a clear intent to build and scale. Bangladesh represents operational maturity, while Nepal represents strategic collaboration. Both signal our long-term commitment to strengthening digital platform advertising ecosystems across South Asia.”

Roar Global views emerging South Asian markets as core growth engines within its regional strategy, underpinned by local talent development, platform excellence, and disciplined execution.

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One of Dubai’s leading conglomerates, GMI Holding FZCO, has entered into a strategic partnership with Sri Lanka’s prominent business groups, 4R Holdings International (PVT) Ltd and RS Lanka, to establish a new joint venture with an initial investment of USD 40 million.

The collaboration will focus on the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Ready Made Garments (RMG), and Soft Commodities sectors. The venture aims to leverage Sri Lanka’s strategic geographic location and preferential trade agreements to secure duty advantages and strengthen supply chain access to regional and global markets.

GMI Holding FZCO is a UAE based holding company with diversified interests across manufacturing, real estate development, FMCG, international trading and financial services. The Group maintains a strong footprint across South Asia, Far East Asia and the Middle East, with a proven track record in strategic investments, operational excellence, and cross-border trade facilitation.

4R Holdings International has diversified business interests spanning Real Estate Development, Hospitality Ventures, Healthcare, Import & Export operations, and Government Infrastructure Development projects. This collaboration marks another long term partnership with a leading conglomerate operating across Asia and the Middle East.

Furthermore, RS Lanka is a leading Sri Lankan business group with established operations in trading, distribution, supply chain management, and sector specific industrial investments. Their strong local market knowledge, regulatory expertise, and operational infrastructure will play a critical role in the successful execution and scaling of the joint venture.

Speaking on the joint venture Mr M. Rilwan Razick chairman 4R Holdings international said “this partnership expected to attract substantial foreign investment into Sri Lanka and it will help strengthening countries economic growth also the partnership reflects a shared vision to build a sustainable, export oriented platform that maximizes Sri Lanka’s competitive advantages while strengthening bilateral trade ties between the UAE and Sri Lanka. The venture is expected to commence phased operations following regulatory approvals and strategic market alignment”.

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