Northern Investment Summit 2026 positions North as Sri Lanka’s next growth frontier

The Northern Province moved firmly into the national economic spotlight as it hosted the Northern Investment Summit 2026 on 21 and 22 January, repositioning the region as an emerging destination for local and international investment under the theme “Building a Resilient, Inclusive, and Globally Connected Northern Economy”.

Held at a pivotal juncture in the province’s post-conflict development journey, the two-day summit highlighted the North’s strong fundamentals, including a 93% literacy rate and a population of 1.3 million, while addressing the long-standing gap between regional potential and access to domestic and global markets. Anchored by the academic strength of the University of Jaffna and the University of Vavuniya, discussions focused on how knowledge, skills and innovation could be translated into sustainable economic outcomes.

Organisers stressed that the summit was not merely a regional event but a precursor to a broader National Vision for Regional Growth, aimed at delivering long-term, inclusive development that uplifts local communities while reinforcing Sri Lanka’s overall economic resilience. Central to this vision was the promotion of public-private collaboration, stronger infrastructure and service delivery, and dynamic partnerships to accelerate growth.

A major focus was diaspora engagement, tapping into the vast Sri Lankan diaspora networks across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and India to facilitate investment, expertise sharing and market access. Equally important were discussions on policy reform, with calls for more investor-friendly governance and streamlined approval processes to ensure a seamless entry for new businesses.

Delivering key remarks at the opening session, Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman Arjuna Herath outlined the Government’s strategy to build a robust investment ecosystem tailored to the North’s unique strengths. He emphasised the critical role of connectivity and logistics, envisioning a four-lane highway across the Northern region to dramatically improve mobility and goods movement.

Herath also detailed plans to upgrade strategic infrastructure, including extending the Jaffna International Airport runway to accommodate larger passenger and cargo aircraft, particularly to strengthen connectivity with India, and upgrading the Kankesanthurai (KKS) Port to handle larger vessels. These developments, he noted, would integrate the Northern Province more effectively into global trade routes and domestic logistics networks.

The BOI Chairman further announced the establishment of three strategic industrial zones to anchor the North’s industrial transformation. Kankesanthurai (KKS) is planned as a mixed industrial zone, leveraging Jaffna’s skilled workforce to expand apparel and manufacturing activities, building on existing clusters in Kilinochchi. Paranthan has been designated a Chemical Zone, with groundwork already underway for its first industrial venture. Mankulam, centrally located, is set to become a value-addition hub, aimed at shifting the region away from raw material exports toward higher-value processed goods in agriculture, dairy and fisheries.

Reflecting the North’s diverse business heritage, the summit showcased opportunities across both traditional and emerging sectors. While agriculture, fisheries and livestock remain economic mainstays, the 2026 summit placed strong emphasis on high-growth industries aligned with the technology-ready youth population of Jaffna. Priority sectors included IT and technology, energy and infrastructure, tourism and retail, and healthcare and education, with each discussion integrating themes such as SME development, start-ups and women-led enterprises to ensure inclusive growth.

Beyond investment and infrastructure, the summit underscored the importance of social renewal. By creating high-value jobs locally, organisers aimed to retain young talent and reduce outward migration. “We wanted our youth to stay and build their futures here,” a spokesperson from The Management Club (TMC), the event organiser, said, adding that empowering women entrepreneurs and strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was key to building a socially and economically resilient region.

The summit drew a high-profile audience of international investors, diaspora leaders, industry representatives and development partners, and featured sector deep-dives, expert panel discussions and facilitated business matchmaking sessions.

As the Northern Province opens itself to global capital and partnerships, the message from the summit was clear: the region is ready to preserve its unique identity while embracing a future of connectivity, inclusion and sustained economic prosperity.