SheTrades Hub launches Sinhala, Tamil export guides to help women-led SMEs tap UK market

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) the host institution of the SheTrades Sri Lanka Hub launched two sector-specific export handbooks in Sinhala and Tamil to help women entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) capitalise on preferential access to the United Kingdom (UK) market, reinforcing efforts to expand Sri Lanka’s export base through greater inclusion of women-led businesses.

Developed in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the British High Commission in Colombo, the handbooks target the textiles and apparel sector, including women’s accessories, footwear and handicrafts and processed agrifood and spices, providing practical guidance on export procedures, regulatory requirements and market expectations in the UK.

A key focus of the publications is the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), under which Sri Lankan exporters enjoy duty-free access on around 92% of product lines, creating significant opportunities to boost exports to one of Sri Lanka’s longstanding trading partners.

The initiative forms part of the UK Government-funded SheTrades Commonwealth+ Program, which seeks to improve the competitiveness, export readiness and international market access of women entrepreneurs and women-led export-oriented businesses across Commonwealth countries.

The launch reflects Sri Lanka’s broader strategy of diversifying its exporter base by increasing participation from SMEs and women-led enterprises, a priority that also features prominently in the forthcoming National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2026-2029.

Speaking at the launch, Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe described the UK as a key trading partner and said the DCTS offers a significant opportunity for Sri Lankan businesses to expand exports under preferential market access arrangements.

He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to enhancing the competitiveness, sustainability and export readiness of local enterprises while welcoming the continued collaboration between the UK Government, ITC and EDB in supporting women entrepreneurs.

“I would like to warmly congratulate the women entrepreneurs who will benefit from this program and express my sincere appreciation to the UK Government and the SheTrades initiative for creating this valuable opportunity. The UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme presents a golden opportunity for Sri Lankan enterprises to enter and scale within the UK market under preferential access arrangements,” he said.

UK Trade Envoy to Sri Lanka Lord Hannett of Everton said translating the export handbooks into Sinhala and Tamil would make critical market information more accessible to entrepreneurs across the country, enabling a broader range of businesses to understand export requirements and seize opportunities in the UK market.

He also noted that Sri Lankan exporters stand to benefit further from the UK’s zero-tariff market access arrangements by expanding exports under the DCTS framework.

The handbooks are designed as practical reference guides covering export procedures, regulatory compliance and market expectations, with the availability of Sinhala and Tamil editions expected to improve outreach and accessibility among export-oriented entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka. 

The handbooks are available for download via the EDB SheTrades Publications and Resources portal:

https://www.srilankabusiness.com/exporters/shetrades/publications-and-resources.html

The launch event was also attended by EDB officials and representatives of women-led businesses and SMEs, with discussions focusing on strengthening women-led export growth, expanding SME participation in international trade and addressing barriers to accessing overseas markets.