Saturday Jan 03, 2026
Saturday Jan 03, 2026
Saturday, 3 January 2026 00:45 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
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| EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe |
By Charumini de Silva
Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe said Sri Lanka is projecting total export earnings of $ 20 billion in 2026, reflecting a year-on-year (YoY) growth of 10%, whilst expressing confidence in the country’s steady recovery and medium-term export expansion strategy.
“Merchandise exports are forecast to exceed $ 15.7 billion in 2026, while services exports are expected to rise to $ 4.3 billion, supported by growth in key sectors and improving global demand conditions,” he told the Daily FT.
The 2026 forecasts form part of a broader five-year roadmap aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness and diversifying its earnings base.
According to Wijesinghe, the projections are aligned with the national objective of increasing total export earnings to $ 36 billion by 2030, comprising $ 25 billion from merchandise exports and $ 11 billion from services exports.
He said this strategy is focused on scaling up value-added exports, improving market access, and strengthening services-led growth alongside traditional goods exports.
Commenting on near-term performance, Wijesinghe said Sri Lanka has already achieved 87% of its annual export target of $ 18.2 billion for 2025 within the first 11 months of the year. Export earnings from goods and services reached $ 15.77 billion during the January-November period, registering a 5.8% YoY growth and underscoring a consistent upward trend in export performance.
Merchandise exports showed particularly strong momentum, with total earnings amounting to $ 12.41 billion during the first 11 months of 2025, reflecting a robust 6.41% YoY increase. This growth was driven by improved performance in several key export categories despite ongoing global economic uncertainties.
Services exports also recorded positive growth, with cumulative earnings rising by 3.62% YoY to reach $ 3.35 billion during the January-November period.
Wijesinghe also noted that the continued expansion of services exports remains a critical pillar of Sri Lanka’s long-term export strategy, especially in areas such as ICT, logistics, and tourism-related services.
He said the strong performance in 2025 and the ambitious targets set for 2026 reflect growing confidence in Sri Lanka’s export sector, while adding the need for sustained policy support, market diversification, and private sector engagement to achieve the $ 36 billion export goal by the end of the decade.
