28th Presidential Export Awards to Be Held on December 8 at BMICH

The 28th Presidential Export Awards ceremony, organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), is scheduled to be held on December 8, 2026, at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

A media briefing on the awards ceremony and the presentation of sponsorship cheques took place today. EDB Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mangala Wijesinghe addressed the media and outlined the objectives and arrangements for the event.

The Presidential Export Awards represent the country’s highest recognition for Sri Lankan exporters who have made significant contributions to the export sector and national economic development. The awards programme aims to recognise businesses that have helped strengthen Sri Lanka’s export performance and economic growth.

The EDB launched the Presidential Export Awards programme in 1981 and has organised 27 ceremonies to date. Approximately 1,500 invitees, including Cabinet ministers, diplomats, government officials and exporters, are expected to attend this year’s event.

The awards will recognise the performance of Sri Lankan exporters during the 2025/2026 financial year. A total of 117 awards are scheduled to be presented, comprising 15 overall awards and 102 sectoral awards covering products and services.

Merit awards will also be presented to eligible categories, as determined by the judging panel, taking into account applicants’ performance and their contribution to exports in sectors relevant to the national economy.

The selection of sectoral award winners will not be based solely on export revenue. Several additional criteria will also be considered in evaluating applicants.

The sponsorship cheque presentation held alongside the media briefing marked another step in preparations for the annual awards ceremony, which recognises the role of Sri Lankan exporters in expanding the country’s presence in international markets.