The Harbour Move That Could Change Exports
Sri Lanka’s ports and logistics sector is being brought into the country’s wider export drive, with a high-level meeting focusing on how the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2026–2030 can be put into action.
The discussion, held at the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation on September 15, centred on the contribution of ports, maritime services and logistics to Sri Lanka’s ambition of increasing exports to US$36 billion by 2030.
The meeting was chaired by Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka, with the participation of Ministry Secretary W.W.S. Mangala and senior officials. The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) was represented by Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe, Director General Erandika Dissanayake, Additional Director General (Development) Kumudinie Mudalige and other senior officials.
The NEDP was prepared by the EDB under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, with technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), following consultations with public and private sector stakeholders.
The plan provides the national framework for Sri Lanka’s export development up to 2030, including the objective of strengthening the country’s position as a competitive logistics and knowledge-intensive export hub serving regional and global markets.
Discussions at the meeting focused particularly on the responsibilities of the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation and its related institutions as lead implementing agencies under the plan.
Among the key areas identified were the improvement of port and logistics infrastructure and services, better trade and logistics facilitation, more efficient movement of export cargo and stronger connectivity with international markets.
The meeting also considered the development of Sri Lanka’s capabilities as a regional maritime and logistics hub, linking the country’s port sector more closely with its broader export ambitions.
Officials stressed the importance of high-level intervention, coordination between institutions and timely implementation of the actions identified under the NEDP.
The EDB, the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation, port-related institutions and other stakeholders will therefore have an important role in turning the plan’s priorities into practical results.
The EDB is also engaging with other key ministries to discuss implementation of the NEDP, with particular attention to cross-sectoral coordination and cooperation among government agencies and other stakeholders.
The latest discussion marks another step in connecting Sri Lanka’s ports and logistics network with a national export target that reaches well beyond the harbour — US$36 billion by 2030.
