Financial Times

DI to be re-launched
Ceylon Leather Products Ltd., (CLP), Sri Lanka’s largest local leather manufacturer, is relaunching its famous DI shoe brand while gearing to increase productivity and exports through expert assistance from India and Italy.

“We are presently on an image building exercise promoting more leather shoes and will be re-launching the DI brand by the end of the year,” Sitendra Senaratne, CEO, CLP said.

CLP recorded a loss of Rs.15 million last year compared to the Rs.18.5 million profit the year before. Severe competition faced by the company in the local market affected its ability to command good prices, especially in the state tender market.

Senaratne said diversification activities the company began last year will spill over to this year as well shifting focus from supplying boots to the armed forces, to exports and a more fashion conscious local market.

“We were more into traditional shoes and doing government tenders but now we have re-organised our design department to put out more fashionable shoes and accessories to the local market,” he said.

He said the company will improve on the domestic market by bringing in Italian and Indian shoe and leather experts for their technical assistance. Presently the company is manufacturing shoes for Japan, Italy, U.K., India, Netherlands and China.

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