Friday Jun 19, 2026
Friday Jun 19, 2026
Friday, 19 June 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
SLAP President Eng. Janaka Rathnakumara
The Sri Lanka Association of Printers (SLAP) will this weekend bring together industry stakeholders, technology providers, manufacturers and policymakers at the Sri Lanka Print Expo 2026, as the sector seeks to accelerate technological adoption, sustainability and industry-wide competitiveness.
The exhibition, regarded as the country’s largest printing, packaging, labelling, signage and graphic communications trade fair, will be held from 19 to 21 June at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo.
Addressing the event, SLAP President Eng. Janaka Rathnakumara said the exhibition reflects the rapid transformation taking place across the global printing and packaging industry, driven by technological advancement, automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital printing, smart manufacturing and sustainable production practices.
Held under the theme “Driving Innovation and Sustainability for a Print Future”, the exhibition will showcase the latest printing and packaging technologies from international and local technology providers, while offering live demonstrations, technical knowledge-sharing sessions, product launches and networking opportunities.
Rathnakumara said the event extends beyond the printing and packaging sectors and is expected to attract participation from manufacturers, exporters, apparel companies, pharmaceutical firms, fast-moving consumer goods companies, educational institutions, entrepreneurs, Government agencies and small and medium-sized enterprises seeking innovative production and packaging solutions.
The exhibition will run alongside the Sri Lanka National Print Excellence Awards 2026, scheduled for 20 June at Cinnamon Life, Colombo.
According to Rathnakumara, the awards program has attracted record participation this year, highlighting the industry’s growing focus on quality, innovation and continuous improvement.
The awards will recognise excellence across multiple categories including offset printing, digital printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing, screen printing, packaging, labels, sustainability initiatives, innovation and special industry achievements.
He noted that the awards serve as an important benchmark for measuring Sri Lankan printing standards against international best practices while encouraging greater investment and technological advancement within the sector.
Rathnakumara said SLAP’s strategic priorities for the 2025-2030 period include strengthening the country’s printing ecosystem and enhancing the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) printers through district-level seminars, technical training programs, knowledge-sharing initiatives and industry networking opportunities.
He said the association aims to connect MSME operators with larger industry participants, technology suppliers, educational institutions and policymakers to create a more integrated and globally competitive printing industry.
The opening ceremony will be attended by Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Secretary Thilaka Jayasundara as Chief Guest. International participation will include representatives from the All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP) and other global printing organisations.
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Asia is the Principal Sponsor of the exhibition, while KWO Printing Needs Ltd. and MK Masterworks are Platinum Sponsors. Gold Sponsors are JDC Printing Technologies, Metropolitan and Gestetner of Ceylon PLC. Media sponsorship has been extended by Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. and Express Newspapers Ceylon Ltd.
Rathnakumara said the exhibition and awards program are intended to support the development of a smarter, greener and internationally competitive printing industry capable of meeting evolving market and sustainability requirements.
