Nalaka Ratnayake Takes the Helm with a Reform-Focused Vision for Export Growth and Global Competitiveness

The Exporters Association of Sri Lanka has elected a new leadership team for 2026/27, with Nalaka Ratnayake appointed Chairperson. The Association’s renewed agenda focuses on trade digitalisation, logistics efficiency, market access, export diversification and stronger participation by small and medium-sized businesses.

The Exporters Association of Sri Lanka — EASL has elected its new office-bearers and Executive Committee at its 29th Annual General Meeting, marking the beginning of a new leadership term focused on strengthening Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness.

The gathering brought together exporters, industry leaders, Heads of Missions, trade officials and representatives from different areas of Sri Lanka’s export sector. World Bank Group Country Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Gevorg Sargsyan attended as Chief Guest.

Nalaka Ratnayake was elected Chairperson for the forthcoming term. He will be supported by Manuje Hordagoda as First Vice Chairperson and Rozanne de Almeida as Second Vice Chairperson.

Outgoing Chairperson Yohan Lawrence will continue supporting the Association as Immediate Past Chairperson, helping to maintain leadership continuity while the new team advances its priorities.

The leadership positions displayed above were announced following the Association’s 29th AGM.

Building on a Year of Export-Sector Advocacy

During his outgoing address, Yohan Lawrence reflected on the Association’s work in representing exporters on major policy and operational matters.

These included concerns surrounding the repeal of the Simplified Value Added Tax scheme, trade-facilitation reforms and the implementation of Sri Lanka’s proposed National Single Window.

The Association continued engaging policymakers and public authorities to communicate the practical challenges faced by exporters and advocate for reforms that could make Sri Lankan products and services more competitive internationally.

EASL describes itself as a platform that brings together individual exporters and industry associations under one representative voice. According to its official website, its direct and indirect membership represents approximately 1,000 exporters and businesses responsible for a substantial share of the country’s export activity.

Competitiveness Must Become the Next National Priority

In his keynote address, Gevorg Sargsyan said Sri Lanka had made encouraging progress in its economic recovery, but now needed to improve competitiveness to accelerate growth and create employment.

He identified three major priorities for strengthening export performance:

• Lowering the cost of conducting business
• Expanding access to international markets
• Attracting higher-quality foreign investment

Sargsyan also highlighted Sri Lanka’s productivity challenge, stating that manufacturing value added per worker remained below comparable levels in Vietnam and the Philippines, while Sri Lanka recorded negative labour-productivity growth during 2024.

This competitiveness agenda is consistent with the World Bank’s wider support for reforms aimed at facilitating higher-value exports, attracting private investment, improving trade conditions and creating employment in Sri Lanka.

These three priorities were presented by the World Bank Group Country Manager during the AGM keynote address.

Nalaka Ratnayake Outlines a New Export Agenda

Addressing the membership for the first time as Chairperson, Nalaka Ratnayake called for faster reforms to position Sri Lanka among Asia’s more competitive and business-friendly export destinations.

A key priority will be accelerating trade digitalisation through the full implementation of an integrated National Single Window. Such a system is intended to allow businesses to submit trade-related information through a coordinated digital point instead of navigating multiple disconnected processes.

Ratnayake also emphasised improving the ease of doing business, strengthening logistics competitiveness and reducing the overall cost of exporting.

His agenda also places importance on diversifying Sri Lanka’s export portfolio, integrating local businesses more deeply into global value chains and increasing SME participation.

A broader export base could reduce dependence on a limited number of products or markets while allowing innovative regional and small-scale enterprises to participate in international commerce.

The agenda reflects the incoming Chairperson’s stated priorities for trade digitalisation, logistics, diversification, global value-chain integration and SME participation.

A Broad Executive Committee Representing Export Industry Expertise

The newly elected Executive Committee brings together representatives from a wide cross-section of Sri Lanka’s export and financial sectors.

Participating organisations include Akbar Brothers, Beira Brush, Ceylon Biscuits, CIC Holdings, Dipped Products, Hatton National Bank, Hayleys, Joint Agri Products Ceylon, Lion Brewery, Nidro Supply, Sampath Bank, the Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation, Tea Tang and Vintage Teas Ceylon, together with representatives of EASL member associations.

This diversity provides the Association with experience across manufacturing, agriculture, food and beverages, banking, logistics, insurance and branded exports.

Why the New Leadership Matters

Sri Lanka’s export sector plays an essential role in earning foreign exchange, supporting employment and connecting local industries with global consumers.

However, leadership changes alone cannot deliver export growth. Progress will depend on cooperation among businesses, government agencies, financial institutions, logistics providers, overseas missions and trade-development organisations.

The priorities presented at the AGM offer a practical direction: simplify trade, lower costs, improve productivity, reach new markets and enable more Sri Lankan SMEs to participate internationally.

SLD Perspective: Turning Export Potential into Global Opportunity

The election of a new EASL leadership team comes at an important stage in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.

For Sri Lankan exporters and entrepreneurs worldwide, the central message is clear: competitiveness must be built through efficient systems, stronger market connections, value-added production, innovation and consistent policy implementation.

SriLankaDirectory.com congratulates Nalaka Ratnayake and the newly elected EASL leadership team and encourages exporters, service providers, chambers, professionals and overseas Sri Lankan business networks to work together in promoting Sri Lankan products and capabilities globally.

Businesses can also use SriLankaDirectory.com to improve their visibility, connect with Sri Lankan and international audiences and share their export achievements, partnerships and business news.