Prioritising the protection of existing garment factories, which face severe risks amid the current economic crisis, must take precedence before the government considers manufacturing textiles from banana plant fibres, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said.

Addressing a public gathering, the Opposition Leader pointed out that Sri Lanka's garment factories currently stand in an unstable position due to prevailing economic difficulties.

"Due to the current economic crisis, garment factories in Sri Lanka are at a very risky stage. Therefore, the most essential thing at this moment is to protect those factories. Before thinking about manufacturing textiles from banana fibres, the government must find solutions to this problem," the Opposition Leader stated.

The Opposition Leader shared these views responding to a recent statement made by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne regarding a plan to manufacture textiles utilising banana plant fibres.