The 28th Presidential Export Awards 2026 will be held on December 8 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), recognising Sri Lanka’s top exporters for the 2025/2026 financial year.

Organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), the ceremony will present 117 awards, comprising 15 overall awards and 102 awards for product and service sectors. Merit awards will also be presented to qualifying sectors based on the decisions of the judging panel.

The awards recognise exporters not only for export revenue but also for market diversification, growth in export earnings, employment generation, repatriation of earnings, value addition, environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

The programme, launched in 1981, has held 27 ceremonies to date. Around 1,500 participants, including government officials, diplomats and exporters, are expected at this year’s event, which will be held under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The EDB said the awards align with efforts to expand Sri Lanka’s exports through product and market diversification, innovation, stronger local brands, sustainable export growth and greater participation in regional value chains.

Applications were initially assessed by an EDB technical committee, with winners selected by a panel headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. Ernst & Young (EY) is the knowledge partner.

Bank of Ceylon is the platinum partner, Commercial Bank the gold partner, while the Sri Lanka Tea Board and Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation are silver partners.

Award recipients will receive a trophy or plaque and certificate, and may use the Presidential Export Awards logo in their marketing for three years.