A high-level discussion on the implementation of Sri Lanka’s National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2026–2030 was held between the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) and the Ministry of Digital Economy on 10 November 2026, focusing on strengthening the contribution of the ICT/BPM sector towards achieving the country’s export growth ambitions.
The meeting was chaired by Hon. Eng. Eranga Weeraratne, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, with the participation of Mr. G. G. S. C. Roshan, Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy, Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, and senior officials of GovTech. The EDB delegation was led by Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman, and included Mr. Erandika Dissanayake, Director General, Ms. Kumudinie Mudalige, Additional Director General (Development) and other senior officials.
The NEDP 2026–2030, formulated by the EDB under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, with technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), serves as Sri Lanka’s national framework for advancing export development. The Plan sets an ambitious target of increasing total exports to US$ 36 billion by 2030, including a dedicated target of US$ 5 billion from digital products and services.
The discussion focused on identifying strategic interventions and strengthening the role of the Ministry of Digital Economy and its affiliated institutions, including GovTech, as Lead Implementing Agencies responsible for delivering key actions under the NEDP.
Among the key proposals discussed were identifying targeted interventions to achieve the US$ 5 billion ICT export target through the Digital Products and Services Advisory Committee, establishing an effective mechanism to capture and monitor service sector export earnings, and addressing the foreign exchange conversion gap affecting the accurate measurement of service exports.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of introducing mandatory registration for exporters, and strengthening the inclusion of services in bilateral and regional trade agreements to improve international market access.
The meeting underscored the importance of strong institutional leadership, high-level policy intervention and coordinated action among relevant government institutions to accelerate the implementation of these strategic initiatives. The collaboration between the EDB, Ministry of Digital Economy, GovTech and other relevant stakeholders is expected to play a pivotal role in strengthening Sri Lanka’s digital economy and expanding its footprint in international markets.
The EDB continues to engage with key Ministries and institutions to facilitate the implementation of the NEDP 2026–2030, ensuring stronger inter-agency coordination, effective implementation of sectoral priorities and collective progress towards achieving Sri Lanka’s national export target of US$ 36 billion by 2030.
