Over 130 UK Businesses Hear Sri Lanka’s Pitch: Trade and Investment Forum in London Builds Momentum for EXPO 2027
Photograph: High Commission of Sri Lanka in London, via eLanka.
A two-day programme of trade and investment engagements in London and Dover brought Sri Lankan officials together with UK business leaders, investors and trade organisations on 21 and 22 October 2026. Its centrepiece, the UK–Sri Lanka Trade and Investment Forum at the High Commission in London, attracted more than 130 participants and promoted Sri Lanka’s export and investment opportunities ahead of Sri Lanka EXPO 2027, scheduled for 14–17 January in Colombo.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in London organised the programme to encourage business partnerships and strengthen commercial ties between the two countries. Discussions covered sourcing from Sri Lanka, investment prospects and ways to connect UK buyers and investors with Sri Lankan businesses.
Forum puts UK–Sri Lanka trade opportunities in focus
The forum was coordinated by the High Commission’s Trade Section. The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development.
Welcoming participants, High Commissioner Nimal Senadheera highlighted the value of stronger bilateral commercial relations and presented EXPO 2027 as a platform for developing new business partnerships. The exhibition is intended to showcase Sri Lanka’s export capabilities and attract international buyers and investors.
Minister Samarasinghe encouraged British businesses to explore Sri Lankan sourcing and investment opportunities. He also highlighted the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). In general terms, the scheme offers eligible developing countries reduced or zero tariffs on many goods entering the UK, subject to product coverage and applicable conditions. For UK buyers, this can be one factor to consider when assessing potential sourcing options.
Illustrative AI-generated image. It does not depict the forum or a specific port.
EXPO 2027 and UK sourcing discussed
Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), presented on Sri Lanka EXPO 2027. The EDB is the country’s export promotion body, and its presentation introduced the exhibition as an opportunity for international buyers and investors to explore Sri Lankan products and services.
The sourcing panel, titled “Why Source from Sri Lanka? Opportunities for UK Buyers, Importers and Distributors,” examined how commercial links between UK buyers and Sri Lankan suppliers could be developed.
Simon Culhane, Finance Director of the Sri Lanka–UK Chamber of Commerce, moderated the discussion. Panellists were Thilaka Jayasundara, Secretary to the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development; Wijesinghe; and Suraj Wijendra, Head of Finance at Marks & Spencer. The participation of a senior representative from the UK retailer placed retail sourcing within the wider conversation about connecting Sri Lankan suppliers with British buyers.
Illustrative AI-generated image of London.
Investment session highlights BOI and Port City Colombo
The investment programme began with a keynote address by Jayasundara on investment opportunities in Sri Lanka. Priyanka Samaraweera, Director of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI), then outlined prospects for foreign investment. The BOI is the country’s investment promotion agency.
Bhathiya Athukorala of International Construction Consortium (ICC) presented opportunities connected with Port City Colombo and Sri Lanka’s real estate sector. Port City Colombo was included as one of the areas for discussion with prospective UK investors.
Illustrative AI-generated image; not an official photograph of Port City Colombo.
A second panel, “Why Invest in Sri Lanka? Opportunities for UK Investors and Strategic Business Partnerships,” was moderated by Roshan Madawela, Chief Executive Officer of the Research Intelligence Unit (RIUNIT). Its panellists were Jayasundara, Samaraweera and Eric Selvadurai, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Aistra.
At the close of the forum, Premathilake Jayakody, Minister (Commercial) of the High Commission, thanked the organisations that supported the event: the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), RS Rock Holdings, Aistra, RIUNIT, International Distilleries Limited and ICC.
London and Dover programme extended the business outreach
On 22 October, the delegation met representatives of the UK–Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce to discuss business cooperation and UK participation in EXPO 2027. A separate meeting with Samantha Cohen CVO, OBE, Chief Executive of CWEIC, and Council representatives explored ways to connect Sri Lankan and UK businesses with international investors through the Commonwealth business network.
The programme concluded with a business networking and investment engagement in Dover, organised jointly by the High Commission and RS Rock Holdings. More than 30 UK business representatives, including potential investors, attended to discuss commercial opportunities with Sri Lanka. The Dover gathering was also covered in eLanka’s earlier report on the RS Rock Holdings engagement.
The wider programme linked the London forum’s discussions with further opportunities for business introductions and cooperation. It also builds on the growing profile of Sri Lankan professionals and organisations in UK business life, including stories such as eLanka’s report on Mark Surgenor’s British Chambers of Commerce International President’s Award.
EXPO 2027: key details for UK businesses
The High Commission has invited UK buyers, investors and business representatives to visit Colombo for EXPO 2027 and explore opportunities for trade, investment and business cooperation. For British and Sri Lankan businesses seeking new commercial connections, the January exhibition will provide a further opportunity to meet and discuss potential partnerships.
Reporting is based on the High Commission of Sri Lanka in London’s release, shared on 27 October 2026, and corroborating reports from Daily FT, Newswire, CWEIC and Daily Mirror.
Original source: High Commission of Sri Lanka in London release, shared via eLanka