North Cloth Lanka was the latest entity to come under the North Sails Sri Lanka Group, when the factory was inaugurated by Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce.
In a special message, Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development noted that, “the opening of the new facility of North Cloth is extremely significant at a time that the country is moving towards economic prosperity with the end of the 30 year conflict. Internationally, many look at Sri Lanka in a favourable manner. International organisations that left the country during the war, have now returned and begun businesses. An internationally recognised organisation identified Sri Lanka as an ideal destination for investment and tourism. I wish success for all aspects and activities of North Cloth that was opened today and comes under the North Sails Group.”
Regarded as one of the success stories of North Sails, the operational facilities of the Group in Sri Lanka have contributed towards its growth. North Cloth joins North Manufacturing, North Sails 3DL Lanka and Southern Spars International, subsidiaries of North Sails Group, USA. Sketching its way on the global map, North Cloth will produce sail cloth for export. The first production was formally initiated at the Biyagama Free Trade Zone by Minister Bathiudeen.
Valerie Fowler, Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy, Edward Heartney, Chief of Economic and Commercial Affairs of the US Embassy, Dulip Wijesekera, Gampaha District MP, M K D Lawrence, Director, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Tom Davis, President of North Cloth, Larry McDonald, Managing Director of North Sails Sri Lanka, Tof Nicolle Griffith, COO, North Sails, Sri Lanka, Thalib Sanoon, Senior General Manager of North Manufacturing as well as other company heads and staff of North Sails were present.
Following the opening ceremony, Tom Davis briefed the Minister on the production process. The guests were then taken on a factory tour.
“North Cloth’s new capability in Sri Lanka is a key piece of our global manufacturing initiative. In concert with our Biyagama sail production sites, we are positioned to offer the highest quality sails to North Sails Lofts around the world,” said Tom Davis.
“A strategic decision was made to increase the North Group’s investments in Sri Lanka in view of the country’s rich resource base, strong workforce and the ability to facilitate new investments,” said Talib Sanoon, Senior General Manager, North Manufacturing.
