EDB at 46: A legacy of transformative progress

August 1, 2025 marks the 46th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), the country’s apex organisation for export promotion and development.

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Established under Sri Lanka Export Development Act No. 40 of 1979, the EDB plays a pivotal role in shaping a vibrant and diversified export sector, positioning Sri Lanka as a competitive player in global trade.

Laying foundation for a national export culture

The EDB’s journey began during a period of economic reorientation following the liberalisation of trade policies in the late 1970s. With the aim of fostering a national export culture, the EDB spearheaded the grassroots initiatives such as the Performance-Oriented Incentive Scheme for Export Production Villages and later expanded to multiple districts—underscoring the EDB’s commitment to inclusive, rural-based export growth.

The other early milestones included the inaugural Buyer-Seller Meet Programme in Denmark and the launch of communication tools like the Exporters’ Forum and Industrial Letter Magazine. The first National Export Development Plan in 1983 laid a strategic foundation that would guide the sector’s evolution.

Expansion, innovation and digitisation