Sri Lanka's Apex Organisation for Export Promotion
The 1st of August 2025 marks the 46th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), the country’s apex organization for export promotion and development. Established under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act No. 40 of 1979, the EDB plays a pivotal role in shaping a vibrant and diversified export sector, positioning Sri Lanka as a competitive player in global trade.
Sri Lanka's export sector demonstrated remarkable resilience and steady progress during the first six months of 2025, with total exports reaching US$ 8,337.86 Mn, marking a robust 6.70 % growth compared to the same period in 2024.
A delegation of 42 Sri Lankan small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) made a strong impact at the 19th China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF), held from 27th to 30th June 2025 at the China Import & Export Fair Complex in Pazhou, Guangzhou. Organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Industrial Development Board (IDB) and with the active facilitation of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Guangzhou,
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) is now calling for applications for the 27th Presidential Export Awards, which will be held under the patronage of His Excellency President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in December 2025 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH).
His Excellency Semih Lütfü Turgut, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye and the Export Development Board (EDB) engaged in discussions on fostering international relations and exploring trade opportunities between the two countries. The meeting was held at EDB on 12th June 2025.
Sri Lanka's export sector demonstrated remarkable resilience and steady progress during the first five months of 2025, with total exports reaching US$ 6,933.35 Mn, marking a robust 7.14% growth compared to the same period in 2024.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) recently convened a high-level meeting to explore strategic collaboration for the implementation of the newly launched Initiative for Textile Sustainability Benchmarking (ITSB) a transformative platform aimed at elevating sustainability standards across Sri Lanka’s textile and apparel sector.
The International Trade Centre (ITC) supported by the Embassy of Switzerland, successfully concluded a full-day workshop on Social Compliance under the Global Textiles and Clothing Programme (GTEX) at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo.
Sri Lanka's export sector demonstrated remarkable resilience and steady progress during the first four months of 2025, with total exports reaching US$ 5,583.25 Mn, marking a robust 6.9% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This upward trend reflects renewed momentum across key industries and underscores the sector’s adaptability in an evolving global trade landscape.
Sri Lankan Giftware and Lifestyle sector blends traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques, producing unique items such as batiks, handloom textiles, wooden products, and ceramic products, bamboo and rattan products with annual export revenue over USD 60 Mn. Most of the potential exporters can be categorized under SME category which provide direct employment for over 200,000 people including Artisans.
A team of officials from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) visited the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) on 25th April, 2025 to initiate discussions on the formulation of the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) for 2025–2029, a key initiative announced in the 2025 Budget under the "A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life" policy framework.
The Global Textile and Clothing Programme (GTEX) phase II is a technical assistance programme that will support the Textile & Clothing sector in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia as well as Sri Lanka to increase its export competitiveness by focusing on sustainability and circularity aspects as key competitiveness drivers.
Sri Lanka has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth in its export sector during the first quarter of 2025, with total exports reaching US$ 4,212.13 Mn, reflecting a robust 5.87% growth compared to the same period last year.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) recently organized a stakeholder consultation to discuss strategies for mitigating the potential adverse impact of the newly imposed 44% reciprocal tariff by the United States on Sri Lankan exports.
The Export Development Board (EDB) and the Sri Lanka Police have signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen mutual cooperation in investigations related to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism.
On March 20, 2025, a meeting was held at the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) to discuss enhancing bilateral trade relations between Switzerland and Sri Lanka. The meeting was attended by H.E. Dr. Siri Walt, Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) recently hosted the 25th Exporters’ Forum at its headquarters, providing a vital platform for exporters to voice their concerns and seek practical solutions to challenges faced in the export sector. Held on March 24, 2025, the Forum attracted a diverse group of stakeholders from the export industry.
Total exports, including both merchandise and services, reached at US$ 1,382.53 Mn in February 2025, marking a notable 4.62% year-on- year growth compared to February 2024. Additionally, exports recorded a 2.58% month-on-month increase compared to January 2025.
The Sri Lankan Export Development Board (EDB) is proud to host the newly launched SheTrades Sri Lanka Hub, marking a milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts to support women entrepreneurs. As the host institution, EDB, in collaboration with ITC SheTrades, uses the SheTrades Outlook tool to monitor the policy environment and assess its support for women entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka.
(Colombo/Geneva) – On 14 March, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) are launching the SheTrades Sri Lanka Hub, funded by the UK’s SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme.. The hub will serve as a resource centre to equip women entrepreneurs with the skills, market access, and policy support required to successfully navigate international trade dynamics, fostering greater participation in global trade.
