Regional Exporters Push for Growth and Solutions at Key Matara Forum
The Regional Exporters Networking Forum for the Southern Province, organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, was successfully held in Matara on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, with the aim of identifying challenges faced by regional exporters and exploring new export opportunities.
Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti attended as Chief Guest, providing exporters with a valuable opportunity to directly present their concerns and proposals.
The forum was also attended by Hambantota District Member of Parliament Nihal Galappatti, EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe, Entrepreneurship Development Authority Chairman Lakshman Abeysekara, Southern Province Industrial Development Authority Chairman Sarath Samarasekara, Southern Province Ministry of Industries Secretary Ranjith Yapa, and Matara District Secretary Chandana Thilakarathna.
Provincial Secretaries, Acting Director of the EDB Regional Development Division D.M.P. Dasanayake, officials from the Southern Province office, and nearly 250 exporters representing the districts of Galle, Matara, Hambantota, and Monaragala also participated.
Prior to the forum, the EDB’s Southern Province Office gathered specific issues and proposals from exporters, making the discussions more focused and productive. The initiative is expected to help minimize regional export disparities and enhance Sri Lanka’s overall export performance through stronger collaboration between policymakers and the export community.
