In September, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) hosted an interactive business session with a high-level Sri Lankan delegation led by Mr. Wasantha Samarsinghe, Hon’ble Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperatives, Government of Sri Lanka. He was accompanied by Mr. K.A. Vimalenthirarajah, Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, and H.E. Ms. Mahishini Colonne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India. The session brought together senior officials, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs from both nations to explore new avenues of trade and investment cooperation.

Post-Crisis Recovery

Minister Wasantha Samarsinghe highlighted Sri Lanka’s steady economic recovery after the 2022 crisis. He noted that structural reforms, fiscal discipline, and investor-friendly policies have helped restore confidence and macroeconomic stability.

He presented the concept of people-public-private partnerships (PPPP) as a model for inclusive growth and emphasized the government’s focus on a production-based economy. Inviting Indian investors, he said, “India has always stood with Sri Lanka in times of need. Today, we are ready to move ahead with confidence, and this is the right time for Indian businesses to invest.”

Trade and Market Access

Mr. Vimalenthirarajah emphasized that bilateral trade between India and Sri Lanka stands at USD 5 billion annually, with strong potential for expansion. India remains Sri Lanka’s top trading partner, supplying petroleum, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles, while Sri Lanka exports tea, rubber, textiles, and spices.

He highlighted Sri Lanka’s preferential access to EU and US markets, offering Indian manufacturers an attractive base for global exports. He also announced that the Sri Lanka International Fair, scheduled for mid-2026, will showcase investment opportunities across key sectors.

Strategic Location and Partnership

H.E. Mahishini Colonne underlined Sri Lanka’s strategic location—just 22 nautical miles from India—along vital Indian Ocean shipping routes. She acknowledged India as Sri Lanka’s largest source of tourists, a major investor, and its closest trading partner. “India and Sri Lanka share more than geography—we share destiny,” she said. “Together, we can create value chains that strengthen both economies and serve global markets.”

Industry Perspective

Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO and Secretary General of PHDCCI, praised Sri Lanka’s dynamic leadership and called for deeper collaboration. Highlighting India’s 65 million MSMEs and 8 lakh cooperative societies, he said these models of grassroots enterprise could inspire Sri Lanka’s cooperative-led development agenda.

He reaffirmed PHDCCI’s 120-year legacy of promoting regional business linkages, innovation, and inclusive growth.

Shared Future Vision

The session reaffirmed the deep-rooted economic and cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka. Both sides agreed that strengthened cooperation in trade, manufacturing, tourism, and food security would not only advance mutual prosperity but also contribute to regional stability and sustainable growth.