The first quarter 2026 has reported a growth rate of 5.1% and the county is on a trajectory of 7% growth with inclusive and sustainable objectives, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning said delivering the keynote address at the National Export Development Plan 2026 โ 2030 launch held yesterday in Colombo.
The Minister said that the objective has been a bit compromised due to the current situation and the first quarter growth should be commendable, though that is lower than what was expected, however this is the highest first quarter growth after 2022. He said when considering resources, capabilities and the countryโs technology Sri Lanka has not reached its potential and the achievement of exports cannot be measured simply in terms of the value of exports. It is connected to some qualitative aspects as well.
Meanwhile, marking a significant milestone in Sri Lankaโs economic development, the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2026โ2030 was officially launched yesterday (16). The NEDP 2026โ2030 is a flagship national initiative developed in line with the policy direction of the Government of Sri Lanka under Budget 2025, with the objective of strengthening the countryโs export sector and advancing sustainable, export-led economic growth. The Plan was formulated under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and the leadership of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), with technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through its Policy-Based Lending (PBL) Programme. The NEDP represents a comprehensive and consultative effort undertaken in close collaboration with key government institutions, private sector stakeholders, development partners, and other relevant entities, providing a coherent strategic framework and actionable roadmap to enhance Sri Lankaโs export competitiveness and diversification during the period 2026โ2030.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved on May 4, 2026, the proposal submitted by the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development to recognize the โSri Lanka National Export Development Plan 2026โ2030โ as the official strategic framework for export development and promotion in Sri Lanka. The Plan represents a unified, consensus-driven roadmap jointly developed by key government institutions, private sector leaders, and international development partners. Aligned with the Governmentโs national vision of โA Thriving Nation โ A Beautiful Life,โ the Plan is designed to enhance Sri Lankaโs export competitiveness and achieve an ambitious yet realistic export revenue target of USD 36 billion by 2030.
The plan is designed to systematically enhance export competitiveness and deliver sustainable export growth, positioning Sri Lanka to achieve this target in a realistic and results-oriented manner. Its central vision is to transform Sri Lanka into a competitive logistics and knowledge-intensive export hub serving regional and global markets. This strategic plan is structured around two interconnected pillars: Cross-Sector Enablers (Horizontals) and Priority Sectors (Verticals), which together provide a comprehensive framework to strengthen Sri Lankaโs export competitiveness, diversification, and sustainable growth.
Source : Daily News
