Brandix, a top Sri Lankan apparel maker, is planning to boost production at a factory built in Batticaloa

June 16, 2009 (LBO) - Brandix, a top Sri Lankan apparel maker, is planning to boost production at a factory built in Batticaloa, a former war-torn area in the east of the island where ex-female Tiger combatants are also working, an official said.

"Our current production is 20,000 pieces and we want to push it up to 50,000 pieces," Theodore Gunasekara, general manager, intimate apparels at Brandix Lanka said.

"Of the current workforce of 220 working at the factory, 95 percent are women.

"This includes some ex-combatants as well."

In May Sri Lanka said the Tamil Tiger leadership was wiped out in the last redoubt in the north east of the country following a two and a half year war.

Eastern Sri Lanka was re-taken from the Tigers in the early phases of the campaign and local elections had already been held in the area, with a breakaway Tiger leader winning the polls.

Gunasekara said currently the factory is making pocket denim pants and will achieve a target of 50,000 pieces by end September 2009.

Brandix has invested 250 million rupees on the factory.

"The factory was made under a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative," said Gunasekara.

"We want to see if we can commercialize this CSR initiative."

source:http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1065451113