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.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), under the patronage of Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, successfully conducted the Regional Exporters Networking Forum on Tuesday, 29th July 2025, at the Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Katugastota, Kandy.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe, represented Sri Lanka at two prestigious international events held in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Trade Promotion Organizations (TPO) Leadership Dialogue and the inaugural Global SME Ministerial Meeting. Both events took place at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre from 22nd to 24th July 2025.
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.
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).
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in partnership with the Australian High Commission, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), hosted a high-level seminar titled “Leveraging Australian Best Practices in Export Promotion” on 30th June 2025 in Colombo.
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.
Colombo, June 2, 2025 – The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Union (EU), successfully organized the Pitching Event for the ExpoScaleUp program at the Ramada Hotel in Colombo. Supported under the European Union's regional initiative 'Accelerating Climate Smart and Inclusive Infrastructure in South Asia (ACSIIS)’ as part of the EU Global Gateway Strategy, this milestone event is a key component of the Sri Lanka Export Excellence Initiative (SLEEI) 2025.
Sri Lanka Export Development Board organized the Technical Exposure programme & the product display parallel to “Style Bangkok 2025” for the Sri Lankan export potential SME companies in collaboration with the Sri Lankan Embassy in Thailand from 01st to 06th April 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) officially launched the SheTrades Sri Lanka Hub web page under the framework of the United Kingdom (UK) Government-funded SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to empower women-led businesses and integrate them into global trade.
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.
A strategic planning session focusing on current export conditions, regional potential, and the necessary interventions to enhance export development in the North Western and North Central Provinces was held recently at the Kurunegala District Secretariat. The session was chaired by Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, with the objective of strengthening provincial-level contributions to Sri Lanka’s national export development agenda.
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.
A strategic discussion aimed at enhancing the contribution of provincial export development was held on 22nd April 2025 under the patronage of Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, at the Matara District Secretariat. The event marked the initiation of a pilot project in the Southern Province, designed to develop and implement a structured export-oriented action plan at the Divisional Secretariat level.
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 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.
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.
