TMC launches Northern Investment Summit 2026 to catalyse growth in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province

The Management Club (TMC) has announced the launch of the Northern Investment Summit 2026 (NIS26), a major initiative to accelerate investment, entrepreneurship and inclusive regional development in northern Sri Lanka. The summit will take place on 21–22 January 2026 at the Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre in Jaffna under the theme “Empowering Growth, insightful Innovations.”

NIS26 is conceived as a strategic platform to reposition the Northern Province as a competitive investment and trade hub by connecting national and international investors with carefully curated, bankable opportunities across priority sectors. The two-day program will bring together Government leaders, private-sector executives, investors, diplomats, development partners, innovators and academics for high-level policy dialogue, sector panels, project showcases and targeted B2B engagement.

“The Northern Province is richly endowed — with natural resources, deep cultural heritage and resilient human capital — and recent improvements in connectivity, port access and policy incentives make this the opportune moment to spotlight its potential,” said the spokesperson for The Management Club. “NIS26 will catalyse partnerships that translate opportunity into sustainable jobs, enterprises and community prosperity.”

The Northern Investment Summit (NIS) is designed as a comprehensive summit that will feature keynote addresses by eminent personalities, sector-specific panel discussions, project exhibitions, B2B matchmaking sessions, and focused investor round tables. The sessions will be conducted in both English and Tamil to ensure inclusivity and effective communication among participants. More than 400 delegates are expected to attend, representing a wide spectrum of stakeholders — including central and provincial government officials, corporate leaders, financial institutions, policymakers, academics, development partners, and members of the local and international business community. NIS26 will spotlight a diversified investment pipeline across agriculture, fisheries, animal husbandry, heritage, tourism industries, MSMEs, startups, healthcare, Siddha medicine, and education, IT, and technology.

Cross-cutting themes include infrastructure, value-addition, SME, renewable energy, sustainability, digitalisation and artificial intelligence.

The summit will specially showcase recent policy incentives and catalytic projects designed to attract capital. Key announcements slated for the conference will include Board of Investment-led plans for three new industrial zones in the north and an enhanced capital allowance specifically for northern Sri Lanka. Delegates will also hear from project owners and public agencies about ready-to-invest opportunities and PPP frameworks.

Organisers expect NIS26 to deliver measurable results, including memorandum of understanding and investment commitments, strengthened public-private partnerships, a surge in investor confidence and greater market access for regional MSMEs. A dedicated Northern Investment Summit Investment Opportunities Report will be published following the event to provide investors with a practical roadmap to engage with the region. NIS26 is intended as more than a single event. 

TMC will institutionalise the effort with an annual Northern Investment Forum, liaise with authorities to establish a permanent Northern Investment Desk to provide ongoing investor facilitation, and a digital platform that showcases live investment opportunities and business updates from the region. These legacy measures aim to ensure that short-term deals grow into long-term, inclusive development.

The summit is powered by The Management Club, with HNB as Platinum and Principal Sponsor and Official Banking Partner, IDL & East India Holdings as Gold Sponsor and Sea Leisure Yachting Group as Strategic Partner. Key stakeholders include the Ministry of Industries, Northern Provincial Council, High Commission of India, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, KPMG, National Enterprise Development Authority, Small Enterprises Development Division, Industrial Development Board, University of Jaffna, University of Vavuniya, Jaffna Managers Forum and others. 

TMC, established over a quarter century ago, was founded with the vision of fostering synergy among managers through networking, knowledge sharing, and the advancement of management and business practices. Building on this foundation, TMC now extends its facilitative role to connect potential investors with emerging opportunities across Sri Lanka—particularly in regional economies. NIS26 reflects TMC’s continued commitment to driving inclusive economic dialogue, promoting partnerships, and unlocking regional potential through collaboration and capacity building.