Stop illicit import of footwear into Lanka- SL Footwear & Leather Manufacturers Association

Sri Lanka Footwear and Leather Manufacturers Association Chairman Neville Perera requested the government to take immediate measures to stop the illegal importation of footwear into Sri Lanka.

The Chairman was addressing a special press conference held yesterday (22) evening at Nippon Hotel, Colombo.

The Chairman further commented that Sri Lanka has now become self-sufficient in local footwear production.

“We have been strong as an industry since 2007. But now shoes are being smuggled from foreign countries illegally and without paying taxes properly. Shoes imported in this way are sold at low prices. We have to face competition when we produce shoes by properly paying taxes on raw materials and 18 percent of VAT to send local production to the market. Here, it is difficult to compete with imported law quality products because the price of local products is high,” he added.

Smuggled imported shoes are cheap. Therefore, consumers buy poor quality and unhealthy imported footwear. The only way to prevent this is to stop the smuggling of shoes from abroad. We request the government to take action for that.

Dhamendra Hangamuwa, a member of the Sri Lanka Footwear and Leather Manufacturers’ Association commented that the industry generates direct employment opportunities for 30 million people with a turnover of 150 billion rupees per year. Such an industry is facing a serious risk of collapse in conquering the inferior footwear market.

“Competing with inferior products is difficult, so we may even have to close our factories in the future,” he noted.

Sri Lanka Footwear and Leather Manufacturers Association member S. Wallaheva said that if they close the factories, a lot of people will lose their jobs. The government is losing revenue. Many children’s families are saddened.

Member of Sri Lanka Footwear and Leather Manufacturers Association. Samantha Udayasiri said that a customs duty of between Rs 1,800 and Rs 2,000 is charged for one pair of shoes. No tax is charged from smugglers.

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