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The official page of the Delegation to Sri Lanka and Maldives
🇪🇺 🤝 🇱🇰 Building partnerships for a sustainable, connected, and resilient future.

Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives

25/09/2026

Strengthening regulatory systems for safer food, stronger trade and sustainable growth 🌱

The European Union was pleased to participate in the National Regulatory Conclave 2026, which brought together policymakers, regulators, industry representatives and development partners to exchange perspectives on strengthening ’s regulatory ecosystem.

Speaking at the Conclave, Ms Virginie Lafleur-Tighe, Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, highlighted the importance of effective, transparent and internationally aligned regulatory systems in protecting consumers, facilitating trade and supporting economic development.

The EU continues to support Sri Lanka in strengthening food safety, quality infrastructure and regulatory capacities through the EU-funded BESPA-Food programme, implemented in partnership with UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization and FAO Sri Lanka and in close cooperation with Sri Lankan institutions.

The Conclave provided a valuable platform for dialogue and collaboration towards regulatory systems that build confidence, strengthen competitiveness and support Sri Lanka’s integration into international markets.

24/09/2026

“I have a passion to put Sri Lanka on the technology map of the world.”

Meet Riyad Ismail, Managing Director and CTO of IIoT Solutions, and his colleague Senura Keheliya, Head of Technology, the team behind a Sri Lankan technology company on a mission to close the country’s 30-year innovation gap. For years, UTECH built advanced solutions for large industries. Then the CIRCULAR Programme changed what their engineering could do.

Today, UTECH is rolling out three circular, impact-driven : off-grid smart irrigation with wild-animal detection for small-scale farmers, IoT cold-chain monitoring that protects food quality across small groceries, pharmacies and dairy chilling centres, and monitoring systems that help SMEs and households cut wastage.

Through the European Union-funded CIRCULAR Programme, under the Global Gateway Strategy, which is implemented together with the Government of Sri Lanka, France, Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka and partly co-funded by für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ), UTECH gained the mentoring, networks and circular design exposure that pivoted their patented technology toward the people most often left behind, small farmers, micro-businesses and everyday households.

From serving industry giants to serving the masses, UTECH is showing how homegrown technology can put Sri Lanka on the global tech map, one circular solution at a time.

👉 Watch their story.

24/09/2026

The Eastern Province offers a rich tapestry of , heritage, tourism and opportunities.

The EU was happy to have joined a three-day study tour for Heads of Diplomatic Missions, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism in Sri Lanka, engaging with public authorities, communities and businesses to learn more about the region’s cultural, and investment potential.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Sri Lanka

23/09/2026

– cooperation is a cornerstone of global financial stability and sustainable development. Grateful to the International Monetary Fund's Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, Evan Papageorgiou and his team for an engaging exchange on the EFF programme review and Sri Lanka’s recent economic progress.

The EU welcomes Lanka’s continued stabilisation efforts and the positive indicators highlighted by the IMF, including 4.2% growth in Q2 2026 and 11 consecutive quarters of expansion.

The discussion also covered EU–Sri Lanka engagement on trade, governance and economic cooperation, as well as upcoming EU priorities and the broader regional economic context.

21/09/2026

“I was putting my ladder on the roof — and the incubator took me to put it on the stars and the skies.”

Meet Pusparaj Vikash, co-founder of The Goodness Factory, a Sri Lankan venture turning what mills once burned away into one of the world’s healthiest cooking oils. For years, the country’s mills discarded rice bran and husk as worthless. Vikash saw a circular opportunity hiding in plain sight, and a chance to give households a heart-healthy to traditional saturated oils.

Extracting rice bran isn’t simple. With just a five-day window before quality degrades, Vikash trialled more than 500 metric tons of bran and rebuilt his entire supply chain to deliver a shelf-stable, 100% non-GMO, halal-certified oil packed with Oryzanol, Vitamin E and antioxidants, sourced responsibly from local farmers.

Through the European Union-funded CIRCULAR Programme, under the Global Gateway Strategy, which is implemented together with the Government of Sri Lanka, Expertise France, FAO Sri Lanka, and GIZ Sri Lanka and partly co-funded by Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ), The Goodness Factory joined a circular design thinking workshop and was selected for the incubator programme, gaining the mentoring, networks and market exposure to grow from a local product into an export-ready brand.

From burning waste to bottling goodness, Vikash’s story shows how EU support can turn one bold Sri Lankan idea into a global circular opportunity.

👉 Watch his story.

17/09/2026

EU Head of Cooperation Virginie Lafleur-Tighe joined government representatives, industry leaders and other stakeholders at the Sri Lanka Coconut Awards 2026 to celebrate the achievements and growing international competitiveness of Sri Lanka’s coconut sector.

Through BESPA-Food, the EU has supported Sri Lanka’s efforts to strengthen the coconut value chain, including contributions to the development of the coconut sector roadmap, a GIS and remote-sensing pilot, a growers’ manual, and technical assistance and capacity development for the Coconut Development Authority - Sri Lanka.

From coconut cream and virgin coconut oil to coconut milk powder and activated carbon, the growth of higher-value products highlights the sector’s strong potential for greater export value and new trade opportunities, including with the market.

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees, and to everyone contributing to the continued growth of Sri Lanka’s coconut sector!

The European Union is proud to partner with Sri Lanka to build more competitive, sustainable and internationally connected agri-food value chains.

17/09/2026

In her State of the Union address, President Ursula von der Leyen noted:

“Partnerships are a strategic choice for . But they also respond to the fracture in the international rules-based system. For some, the answer is to go it alone. But this is not an option for us. Europe will always lead when it comes to defending the rules-based system. But we can no longer rely on it as the only way to secure our interests, or assume that its rules will shelter us from the complex threats that we face. In this new world, we must urgently reimagine our , and build global coalitions for our resilience and democracies."

READ the full speech here: https://link.europa.eu/nv9Vvj

European External Action Service - EEAS European Parliament

15/09/2026

Citizens who vote knowing their voice counts. Judges who deliver justice independently. Journalists who report despite intimidation. People who participate.

Democracy is stronger because of those who defend it every day.

Read the statement by HR/VP Kaja Kallas on International Democracy Day: https://link.europa.eu/nWFWKT

24/08/2026

Cohort 02 of the CIRCULAR Incubator Programme has officially launched!

The European Union-funded CIRCULAR Programme, under the Global Gateway Strategy, which is implemented together with the Government of Sri Lanka, Expertise France, FAO Sri Lanka, and GIZ Sri Lanka and partly co-funded by Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) is supporting Sri Lanka’s transition towards a more sustainable and inclusive economy.

Through the six-month programme, 11 selected companies will receive support to develop and scale innovative solutions addressing critical challenges across ’s food value chain.

The cohort launch also brought together entrepreneurs, alumni, ecosystem partners, the private sector, academia and partners to share knowledge, showcase ideas and build .

20/08/2026

The European Union and Colombo Stock Exchange celebrated three years of partnership through the EU-funded Green Recovery Facility, implemented by Expertise France.

In 2025, Sri Lanka’s GSS+ bond market mobilized approximately LKR 82 billion (EUR 216 million), supporting investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, water and coastal resilience, and inclusive social infrastructure.

By supporting sustainable finance and mobilizing investment for a greener economy, this partnership reflects the EU’s Global Gateway strategy: building trusted connections and generating transformational impact.

A milestone for sustainable finance - and a stronger foundation for Sri Lanka’s green economic transition. 🌱

Address

389, Bauddhaloka Mawatha
Colombo

Opening Hours

Monday	08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 17:00
Thursday	08:00 - 17:00
Friday	08:00 - 15:00

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+ 94 11 2674413 / Fax: +94 11 2678860

Website

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/sri-lanka_en

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