The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) has announced the opening of applications for the 34th NCE Export Awards, which is the Chamber’s flagship event and the longest-running program in the country dedicated to recognizing exporters. The launch took place at the Mandarina Hotel, with applications accepted until September 30, 2026. The awards ceremony is scheduled for December 11 at the Main Ballroom of the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo.
During the event, NCE President Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa highlighted that this year marks 34 consecutive years of the Export Awards program, which has continued annually despite challenges such as the Tsunami, the Easter Sunday attacks, the pandemic, and other significant hurdles faced by the export sector.
According to Mr. Rajapaksa, “The NCE Export Awards serve as more than just a ceremony; they are a national platform that acknowledges, honors, and motivates Sri Lankan exporters who have significantly contributed to our nation’s pride.”
In 2025, Sri Lanka’s export revenues surpassed US$17 billion, with the apparel and textile sector being the largest contributor, generating over US$5 billion. Other significant sectors included tea, coconut products, food and beverages, spices, rubber, gems and jewelry, and a rapidly growing segment in ICT and BPM services. For the first five months of 2026, export revenues approached US$7.4 billion, comprising US$5.76 billion in merchandise and US$1.63 billion in services, reflecting an increase of over 7% compared to the previous year.
Mr. Rajapaksa connected these achievements to the government’s goal of achieving approximately US$19 billion in export earnings by 2026, as outlined in the National Export Development Strategy for 2026-2030. He encouraged all exporters, whether NCE members or not, to submit their applications, emphasizing that winning an NCE Export Award has become a symbol of excellence and credibility in international markets, which can enhance a company’s reputation and distinguish it from its competitors.
NCE Secretary General and CEO Shiham Marikar elaborated on the judging criteria, which evaluates financial and export performance alongside market development, branding, ethical business practices, good governance, and human resource development. Special emphasis is placed on innovation, value addition, and research and development. The entries are assessed based on three sustainability pillars: People, Planet, and Profit, aligning with the government’s economic development priorities. The awards include Gold, Silver, and Bronze categories, in addition to several special awards, including the prestigious title of Most Outstanding Exporter.
Last year, the Chamber received 154 applications and anticipates around 175 applications this year, categorized by turnover from Small (under LKR 100 million in annual export turnover) to Extra Large (above LKR 1.5 billion), and across three primary sectors that cover product exporters, business and professional service exporters, and suppliers to exporters. Two new sectors, Beauty and Personal Care and Stationery, have been introduced this year, increasing the total eligible sectors to 40. Application fees range from LKR 25,000 for NCE members in the Small category to LKR 60,000 for non-members in the Extra Large category, plus VAT. Application guidelines and forms are available at www.nce.lk.
Onalie Dissanayake, Chairperson of the NCE Panel of Judges, provided insights into the assessment process. Applications undergo a compliance check, followed by scoring from a technical committee based on the Chamber’s criteria, with the Panel of Judges finalizing the evaluations to determine the winners. Incomplete applications, particularly those lacking audited accounts or authorization letters, have resulted in disqualifications in previous years, so applicants are encouraged to ensure they complete every section thoroughly.
Deepal Perera, Head of Sales at Ex-Pack Corrugated Cartons PLC, spoke at the event as the primary sponsor of the Export Awards. Ex-Pack, recognized as Sri Lanka’s leading corrugated packaging manufacturer and an exporter itself, has collaborated with the NCE for a decade, transitioning from a strategic partner to the main sponsor during this time.
In closing, Lakshan Algama, Chairman of the NCE Event Sub-Committee, emphasized the credibility and prestige the Export Awards have established over more than 30 years and urged exporters to participate, noting that the process offers a valuable opportunity for benchmarking their own performance.
The evening concluded with the presentation of application kits to previous NCE Export Award winners by Mr. Rajapaksa, Mr. Marikar, and Ms. Dissanayake.
The event’s key partners include Ex-Pack Corrugated Cartons PLC as the main sponsor, Ernst & Young as the strategic knowledge partner, Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited as the media partner, and Dialog Enterprise as the Digital Technology Partner.
