President Dissanayake to Offer Incentives for Value-Added Exports

Colombo, Sri Lanka — President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the government plans to offer incentives for export diversification and value-added products. He emphasized that the role of the government is to facilitate, not hinder, industries, stressing the importance of consulting with relevant sectors when formulating laws and allowing adequate time for their implementation.

The President made these remarks during a pre-budget discussion for 2026 with private sector stakeholders from the agricultural and food industries at the President's Office yesterday, August 29.

The meeting covered a wide range of topics, including facilities for farmers, exports, tax relief, recycling, and legal frameworks affecting industrial operations. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the challenges faced by businesses in ensuring a continuous supply of high-quality agricultural and food products, with business leaders presenting their ideas and proposals.

President Dissanayake pointed out that the disorganized nature of the agricultural sector has led to buyers, rather than producers, setting prices for farm products. He noted the lack of a systematic process for delivering products to consumers and called for a collaborative effort between the government and the private sector to address these issues.

The President also stated that the government is focusing on leveraging the full support of the private sector to expand the market for agricultural crops, dairy, and livestock products. He reiterated that the responsibility of adding value to products lies with entrepreneurs and that the government intends to introduce new mechanisms to support this.

Discussions also highlighted the lack of productivity in the livestock sector, which has not developed into a full-fledged industry. Participants explored ways to revitalize the livestock industry and streamline product distribution.

The meeting was attended by prominent figures including Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, President’s Senior Additional Secretary Russel Aponsu, Export Development Board Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe, officials from the Ministry of Finance, and leading business figures from the agri-food sector. (PMD)