Exports
Sri Lanka’s exports include textile, garments, tea, rubber, gems and jewelry. It accounted for $7.5 billion USD worth of exports in 2007. The textile and garments industry accounts for about 45 percent of exports. The United States alone invested approximately $200 million USD in 2006 consisting primarily of setting up industrial machinery, specialized fabrics and textiles for use in the garment industry. Sri Lanka’s tea production is around 300 – 310 million kilograms, with a share of around 22 percent of world’s tea exports. At present a volume of about 750 thousand kilograms of organic tea is produced annually. Approximately 500 thousand kilograms are exported mainly to Western European Countries, Japan, USA, and Australia. These exports strengthen the Sri Lankan economy and allow the continued funding of unprecedented military action and ongoing human rights violations. The “No To Sri Lanka” campaign strives to pressure the Sri Lankan government to free the 300,000 Tamil civilians trapped in barbed wire concentration camps. By endorsing this campaign, consumers, retailers, and governments can help to bring freedom and justice to the Tamil people.
