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Check before you wear: It may be somebody else’s used clothes
View(s):By Nadia Fazlulhaq
Sri Lanka has become a dump yard for used clothes from Western countries, although the country is well known for its own garment export industry. The Sunday Times witnessed clothes varying from denims, t-shirts, frocks skirts and even under garments being sold at prices ranging from Rs. 25 to Rs. 300 in several shops in Colombo and provinces.
One shop in Narahenpita states it sells branded and dry-cleaned clothes mainly from Canada.
A shop selling dry-cleaned clothes from Canada
A mother of two who was shopping with her children for the New Year said she had purchased clothes for her husband and two children from the shop. “They are a bit faded but wearable,” she said. Many of the sales persons say they have no clue who their main supplier or suppliers are but container-loads of clothes are brought and distributed to shops.
“Not only clothes but accessories like belts, caps and even soft toys are being sold at Rs. 50 to Rs. 150,”one of the employees at a shop in Wellawatte said. The situation is worse outside Colombo. In Matara people are even unaware that that they are buying used clothes as they are being sold as excess stock from garment warehouses.
Dr. Omala Wimalaratne, a virologist attached to the Medical Research Institute(MRI) said there was no guarantee whether these clothes are properly washed as many have been collected as charity or unwanted clothes.
“No undergarments should be used as second hand. Undergarments pose health threats and should not be used even among members of the same family,” she said adding that viruses like hepatitis B are very resistant and can be passed through blood or secretion.
Undergarments too are sold. Pix by Susantha Liyanawatte
“Skin diseases are mild diseases and can be overcome with proper washing. But some people suffer from warts and other parasitic infections,” Dr. Wimalaratne said. When contacted a senior Customs officials who wished to remain anonymous said under the law used items could be imported by obtaining an Import Controller’s licence.
“This is considered as conditional import and can be brought in tonnes or number of pieces for commercial purposes. Usually what were permitted were clothes like sweaters, winter wear and bed linen and to be sold at a reasonable rate. But now it has gone to the extent of bringing undergarments and it is not possible to check each and every garment,” he said.
According to him, cloth stocks go through the quarantine office and require approval before being released from the Customs.
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