Category: Daily Financial Times

The India-Sri Lanka Textile Trade Forum was organised on the sidelines of the Intex Sri Lanka 2026 by Worldex India, with the support of the High Commission of India, on 6 August 2026 at BMICH, Colombo.

Intex, the region’s premier international textile sourcing exhibition, witnessed strong participation from India, with over 80 Indian exhibitors, Export Promotion Councils and industry bodies showcasing India’s capabilities across the textile value chain.

India’s participation at Intex Sri Lanka 2026 was anchored by the special ‘Incredible Textiles of India’ Pavilion, supported by leading Export Promotion Councils under the Ministry of Textiles and the Department of Commerce, including PDEXCIL, TEXPROCIL and MATEXCIL.

India’s High Commissioner Santosh Jha, also visited the India Pavilion and interacted with participating Indian exhibitors and industry representatives.

Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, Deputy Industry and Entrepreneurship Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, addressed the India-Sri Lanka Textile Trade Forum. In their remarks, they highlighted the opportunities available in Sri Lanka for Indian exporters and investors, particularly in the textile and apparel sector.

The Forum also brought together representatives of prominent business chambers, including the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), and leading businesses, providing a platform for interaction between stakeholders from the textile industries of India and Sri Lanka.

In his remarks, the High Commissioner highlighted the strength of the India-Sri Lanka commercial partnership and the significant opportunities to further deepen bilateral trade and investment through stronger supply-chain linkages and industry-to-industry partnerships in the textile sector.

The textile and apparel sector is an important pillar of India-Sri Lanka trade and economic relations. The India-Sri Lanka Textile Trade Forum provided an opportunity to further strengthen business linkages and explore new avenues for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) successfully retained the prestigious Burdett Trophy as the match against Nuwara Eliya Golf Club (NEGC) ended in a draw in the Hill Country recently.

The Burdett Trophy, first played more than a century ago, continues to be one of the country’s most treasured golfing traditions, bringing together the nation’s two oldest golf clubs in a fiercely contested annual encounter.

RCGC laid the foundation for victory with a commanding display in the foursomes, securing crucial points through several outstanding partnerships. The Colombo side produced consistent performances throughout the day to establish an unassailable lead before the singles matches.

NEGC responded strongly in the Burdett Singles, claiming a 2.5-1.5 victory. Viran Perera defeated Yannik Kumara 4 and 3, while Murad Ismail recorded an identical 4 and 3 win over Dharshan Veeraraghavan. The contest between Reshan Algama and Chandana Gunasekera ended all square, with each side taking half a point. RCGC’s lone Singles victory came from Kushal Johnpillai, who defeated Vinuda Weerasinghe 4 and 3.

Despite NEGC’s spirited fightback in the singles, RCGC’s dominance in the foursomes proved decisive as they successfully defended the famous Burdett Trophy.

While the 123rd Burdett Trophy remained the centrepiece of the annual RCGC and NEGC encounter, several other closely contested matches added further excitement to the weekend.

RCGC retained the 125th Anniversary Trophy with an 8.5-6.5 victory over NECG. Nuwara Eliya, however, fought back to claim the Masters Trophy by 3-1. The Puffin Foursomes ended all square at 2-2 after an evenly contested battle between the two Clubs, while the Puffin Singles also finished tied at 2-2, reflecting the high standard of golf displayed throughout the competition.

Parliament’s Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Infrastructure and Strategic Development has raised concerns over delays, rising costs, and gaps in economic assessment of infrastructure serving Port City Colombo, after officials were unable to provide timelines or expected returns for key components of the Port Access Elevated Highway project.

The Committee, chaired by MP S.M. Marikkar, was told that the project, estimated to cost Rs. 28 billion when its cost and feasibility were last studied in 2015, is now estimated at Rs. 52 billion.

Officials were unable to provide the Committee with timelines for the overall project, expected returns on investment, or detailed assessments of its economic and social impact, despite the project being intended to improve connectivity to Colombo Port and Port City Colombo, ease congestion, and generate travel-time and fuel savings.

Marikkar questioned the absence of updated assessments given that the Rs. 52 billion cost would ultimately be borne by the public. He also argued that the Road Development Authority’s (RDA) monopoly over the project was an obstacle to ensuring timely implementation, due diligence, and transparency, contrasting it with Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded phases where greater accountability was required.

The project comprises four ramps, including an undersea tunnel connecting Port City Colombo with Marine Drive.

Ramp three, connecting the New Kelani Bridge to Colombo Port, is expected to be completed this year and is projected to reduce access time to the Port from several hours during congestion to under 30 minutes. However, officials could not provide estimates of the wider economic and social benefits or expected returns from the investment.

The other three ramps remain stalled at planning and land acquisition stages, with final permission from CHEC Port City also pending for relevant components.

The Committee instructed officials from the Colombo Port City Economic Commission, RDA, Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), and electricity and water utilities to submit detailed reports on the progress of infrastructure and utility development serving Port City Colombo.

The Committee also questioned Port City Colombo’s administrative status after it emerged that 51% of its land area has been allocated for residential use, with commercial and retail activities accounting for the balance.

Colombo Port City Economic Commission officials said the residential allocation had always formed part of the development plan and acknowledged that the marketing strategy may have created a different impression given Port City Colombo’s positioning as a financial and commercial hub.

Marikkar said that if Port City Colombo was primarily residential, the Commission needed to quickly establish the applicable Local Government jurisdiction and residents’ voting rights, while finalising agreements with the CMC for services required by the development.

Commission officials said Port City Colombo does not fall under the CMC, although it is located within Grama Niladhari Division 120, Colombo Fort. Asked whether residents of Port City Colombo would be eligible to vote in Local Government elections, officials said they would revert to the Committee with a clarification.

The Committee also questioned how CMC-provided services, including garbage disposal, sewage disposal, and firefighting, would be priced for Port City Colombo.

‘The majority of households in Colombo are poor, don’t forget that. So when you discuss how to cost these services like bringing garbage into Colombo from the Port City, ensure that you make a profit and not just cover costs,’ Marikkar told CMC officials.

‘We are developing this for high-net-worth individuals and to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), an area with a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and rules, so we must ensure that the benefits promised to citizens are delivered,’ Marikkar said.

Officials estimated that Port City Colombo could attract about $ 700 million in FDI this year, but were unable to provide the Committee with specific details of the investment pipeline.

When a shipment of Sri Lankan tea, apparel, or value-added spices arrives at a port in Europe, North America, or neighboring Asia, customs officers at the port of entry look beyond the commercial invoice, the bill of lading, or the physical containers. They examine a single critical document that dictates the legal and financial fate of that cargo: the Certificate of Origin (CoO).

In an era defined by geopolitical re-alignments, heightened tariff friction, unilateral trade sanctions, anti-dumping actions, and rigorous environmental and labour enforcement, the Certificate of Origin has evolved from a routine administrative paper into a high-stakes trade security document.

For a developing maritime nation like Sri Lanka, strategically positioned along Indian Ocean shipping lanes the integrity of our trade documentation is paramount. As global powers impose trade embargoes, punitive countervailing duties, and strict environmental mandates on various foreign entities, the risk of transshipment fraud and origin circumvention has surged.

If third-country goods under embargo or subject to anti-dumping duties are illegally transshipped through Sri Lanka and falsely passed off as local origin, the international backlash will not merely hit the fraudulent exporter-it will devastate the credibility of Sri Lanka’s entire export apparatus.

This column serves as a comprehensive operational guide and strategic warning for exporters, trade chambers, customs brokers, and policymakers across Sri Lanka. It breaks down the mechanics of Rules of Origin (RoO), contrasts preferential and non-preferential certificates, outlines World Customs Organisation (WCO) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) standards, and highlights the urgent necessity for trade chambers to exercise meticulous due diligence.

At its core, Rules of Origin (RoO) are the technical criteria used to determine where a product was made. In international commerce, establishing origin is not as simple as noting where a container was loaded onto a vessel. Modern supply chains involve raw materials sourced from Country A, processed in Country B, assembled in Country C, and packaged in Country D.

To navigate this complexity, global customs frameworks categorise Rules of Origin into two primary regimes:

1.Wholly Obtained Criteria: Goods that are entirely grown, harvested, extracted, or born in a single country without any imported components (e.g., pure Ceylon Tea grown in Nuwara Eliya, raw cinnamon harvested in Matara, or fish caught by Sri Lankan flagged vessels in territorial waters).

2.Substantial Transformation Criteria: Goods produced using imported raw materials or intermediate inputs. To qualify as originating from the exporting country, these materials must undergo a substantial, economically justified transformation that yields a new and distinct product.

Primary tests for substantial transformation

Competent authorities globally, guided by WCO standards, utilise three main methodologies to evaluate whether substantial transformation has occurred:

Change of Tariff Classification (CTC): Requires that the imported non-originating materials fall under a different Harmonised System (HS) tariff heading or subheading than the finished product (e.g., Change of Tariff Heading / CTH at the 4-digit level, or Change of Tariff Sub-Heading/ CTSH at the 6-digit level).

Ad Valorem Percentage (Local Value Addition / LVA): Requires that a specified minimum percentage of the product’s final Free on Board (FOB) value is added within the exporting country, or that non-originating materials do not exceed a certain ceiling.

Specific Process Criterion: Mandates that the product undergo a specific, defined manufacturing or processing operation (e.g., converting yarn into fabric, followed by garment stitching in the apparel sector).

Preferential vs. Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin

Understanding the legal distinction between Preferential and Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin is essential for every trade stakeholder in Sri Lanka.

A. Preferential Certificates of Origin (P-COO)

A Preferential Certificate of Origin is a legal instrument issued under specific bilateral, regional, or multilateral trade agreements, as well as unilateral trade preference schemes. Its primary purpose is to enable the importer in the destination country to claim reduced or zero customs duties (tariff concessions).

In Sri Lanka, the Department of Commerce (DoC) is the sole designated National Authority competent to issue and validate Preferential Certificates of Origin.

Key examples of Preferential Trade Frameworks:

Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA): Under the ISFTA, Sri Lankan products exported to India can enjoy tariff concessions provided that they satisfy the prescribed Rules of Origin. Generally, products manufactured with non-originating inputs must achieve a Domestic Value Addition (DVA) of at least 35% of FOB value, combined with a Change of Tariff Heading (CTH) at the HS 4-digit level. Under cumulative provisions, if Indian raw materials are utilised, the required Sri Lankan local value addition drops to 25%, provided total combined regional value addition reaches 35%.

Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (PSFTA): Similar to the ISFTA, the PSFTA provides duty-free or concessional access for thousands of tariff lines. Non-wholly obtained goods require a 35% local value addition and a Change of Tariff Sub-Heading (CTSH at the 6-digit level). Cumulative origin provisions also apply, allowing a 25% local contribution when incorporating Pakistani inputs.

Generalised System of Preferences (GSP/GSP+): Unilateral trade preference schemes granted by developed markets (such as the European Union, Japan, and other donor countries) provide duty-free access to vulnerable developing economies. The EU GSP+ scheme, highly vital to Sri Lanka’s apparel and fisheries industries, enforces stringent Rules of Origin-such as the ‘double transformation’ rule for textiles and apparel to ensure meaningful value addition occurs domestically before preference benefits are claimed.

Other regional agreements: The Department of Commerce routinely processes and certifies preferential documents under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA).

B. Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin (NP-COO)

Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin are used for standard commercial exports that do not claim preferential duty reductions. They are routinely requested by foreign customs agencies, banks (for Letter of Credit compliance), and trade authorities to verify the commercial source of goods, administer import quotas, apply trade statistics, or enforce trade defence measures.

In Sri Lanka, designated Trade Chambers (such as the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, and the National Chamber of Exporters) are authorised to issue Non-Preferential CoOs to exporters.

Practice vs. global realities: The 25% rule and anti-dumping protection

Sri Lanka has already enacted domestic Anti-Dumping, Countervailing, and Safeguard legislations to protect its local manufacturers from unfair foreign trade practices. However, establishing clear domestic Non-Preferential Rules of Origin (NP-RoO) criteria is just as crucial.

The pragmatic 25% benchmark

Practically, Sri Lanka has been using the administrative guideline issued by the Department of Commerce requiring at least 25% Local Value Addition (LVA) or a Change of Tariff Heading (CTH) to declare Sri Lankan origin for processed imports.

It is also noteworthy that BOI agreements themselves recognise the importance of meaningful domestic value creation. Most BOI agreements require BOI-approved enterprises to maintain a minimum Domestic Value Addition (DVA) of at least 25%, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s long-standing administrative benchmark applied in origin determination. Nevertheless, satisfying this value-addition requirement alone is insufficient. The processing undertaken must also constitute substantial transformation under internationally accepted Rules of Origin and must not fall within the WCO’s list of minimal operations.

Why formal non-preferential Rules of Origin are essential

While Sri Lanka currently relies on this practical 25% guideline, the nation has not yet formally legislated its own product-specific Non-Preferential Rules of Origin Framework.

This is a key regulatory gap. When an international anti-dumping or countervailing investigation is launched-or when Sri Lanka initiates its own trade defence measures the availability of established, legally binding Non-Preferential Rules of Origin criteria is absolutely necessary.

Major trade blocs like the European Union have already established legally binding Non-Preferential Rules of Origin (e.g., Article 60 of the EU Union Customs Code, supplemented by Annex 22-01 UCC-DA). The EU’s rules explicitly define ‘last substantial transformation’ for specific goods and dictate which exact processes confer or deny origin when trade defence duties (like anti-dumping) are triggered.

Furthermore, Sri Lanka’s 25% value-addition practice must strictly align with WCO Minimal Processing Criteria. Even if a local exporter claims that a 25% value addition was reached due to local markup, labour, or expensive packaging, if the physical process falls under WCO-defined minimal operations, it can NEVER confer origin.

International standards

WCO minimal processing criteria with real-world examples

Under the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) specifically Specific Annex K-the core objective of determining origin is establishing where a product underwent substantial transformation.

To prevent origin circumvention, the RKC lays down the Minimal Operations Rule. These are operations that do not confer origin, regardless of whether the product achieves a 25% local cost addition, changes tariff lines on paper, or incurs local labour hours.

Specific manufacturing examples of WCO minimal processing

Preservation operations:

Raw shrimp harvested in Foreign Country A is shipped frozen to a processing warehouse in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, the shrimp is defrosted, rinsed, re-frozen, and vacuum-packed.

Origin Verdict: Country A. Washing, chilling, and re-freezing are minimal preservation operations that do not confer Sri Lankan origin.

Packaging and sorting operations:

Fully manufactured garments made in Foreign Country A arrive in bulk cartons at a bonded zone in Colombo. Workers unbox the items, steam-press them, put them on plastic hangers, add price tags, and repack them.

Origin Verdict: Country A. Pressing, hanging, and repacking are minor logistical operations that leave the origin unchanged.

Simple assembly operations:

Completely knocked down (CKD) components for solar panels or electronic tablets manufactured in Foreign Country A are imported to Sri Lanka. Workers snap the plastic casings together and insert four screws using handheld screwdrivers.

Origin Verdict: Country A. Simple assembly without technical transformation, surface-mounting, or high-tech manufacturing fails to confer origin under WCO standards.

Simple mixing of products:

Fruit juice concentrate imported from Country A is mixed with water and imported sugar in Sri Lanka and poured into consumer bottles.

Origin Verdict: Country A. Dilution with water or simple ingredient mixing without chemical synthesis or fermentation is a minimal process.

Affixing labels and branding:

Unbranded footwear made entirely in Country A is imported to Sri Lanka, where a local factory sews a ‘Ceylon Design’ cloth tag onto the shoe tongue.

Origin Verdict: Country A. Relabeling carries zero legal weight in origin determination.

The WTO perspective on non-preferential Rules of Origin

The World Trade Organisation (WTO), through the Agreement on Rules of Origin (1995), recognised that inconsistent and divergent Non-Preferential Rules of Origin (NP-RoO) applied by different countries could create uncertainty, increase compliance costs, and act as unnecessary obstacles to international trade.

To address this, WTO Members launched the Harmonisation Work Program (HWP), entrusting the World Customs Organisation (WCO) with the development of harmonised product-specific Non-Preferential Rules of Origin based on objective criteria such as substantial transformation. Although significant technical progress has been achieved, WTO Members have yet to adopt a universally binding harmonised system. Consequently, each Member continues to apply its own domestic Non-Preferential Rules of Origin, provided they are transparent, predictable, impartial, consistently administered, and do not create restrictive or trade-distorting effects.

For Sri Lanka, this presents both the opportunity and the responsibility to establish a comprehensive domestic Non-Preferential Rules of Origin framework aligned with WTO principles and international best practices, thereby strengthening the credibility of origin certification and safeguarding the country’s reputation in global trade.

The escalating risk: Anti-Dumping, countervailing duties, and circumvention fraud

The global trading environment is navigating unprecedented administrative friction. Major markets (including the US, EU, and India) aggressively enforce:

Anti-Dumping Duties (ADD): Punitive tariffs imposed on foreign goods dumped in import markets below normal value.

Countervailing Duties (CVD): Special duties intended to offset foreign government subsidies.

Geopolitical trade embargoes and sanctions: Targeted import bans on specific foreign goods or state-linked entities.

The mechanism of Origin circumvention

When Country A is hit with a 100% Anti-Dumping duty by Country C, bad actors in Country A seek workaround routes. They ship the restricted goods to Sri Lanka (Country B) into a free zone or bonded warehouse. There, the goods undergo superficial repackaging or labeling. The exporter then applies to a Sri Lankan Trade Chamber for a Non-Preferential Certificate of Origin claiming ‘Sri Lankan Origin’ to evade Country C’s anti-dumping duties.

If Sri Lankan documentation is implicated in circumvention, foreign customs authorities will flag all Sri Lankan shipments as ‘High Risk,’ triggering 100% physical container inspections and damaging the entire export economy.

A direct call to Sri Lankan trade chambers: Exercise meticulous due diligence

This brings us to a crucial operational point for our national economy. Trade Chambers issuing Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin cannot act as passive rubber-stamping bodies.

While the Department of Commerce rigorously scrutinises every Preferential CoO application using detailed cost statements, factory audits, and bill-of-material verifications, Trade Chambers issuing Non-Preferential CoOs must elevate their verification procedures to the exact same high standard.

Mandatory action plan for Sri Lankan trade chambers:

1.Stop ‘Mere Export’ Reliance: Never issue a CoO simply because cargo leaves a Sri Lankan port or the exporter has a local business registration.

2.Apply WCO Minimal Processing Rules First: Verify that processing exceeds basic minimal operations before calculating value addition.

3.Mandate Complete Input Traceability: Demand Customs Import Declarations (CUSDEC), raw material invoices, and detailed cost breakdowns proving at least 25% LVA or genuine CTH.

4.Conduct Unannounced Factory Audits: Perform spot-checks to confirm production capacity, machinery, and physical labour match declared export volumes.

5.Strictly Control Free Zone Cargo: Demand foreign original CoOs for transshipment cargo and issue ‘Certificates of Re-Export/Non-Manipulation’ clearly stating original foreign origin-NEVER declaring Sri Lanka as the origin.

6.Exercise Special Care for BOI Entrepôt Operations: Where exports originate from BOI-approved entrepôt trading entities, verify whether the processing undertaken exceeds the WCO minimum processing criteria. If the goods have not undergone substantial transformation, the Non-Preferential Certificate of Origin should clearly indicate the actual foreign country of origin rather than Sri Lanka.

Evolving global demands: Labour integrity and environmental standards

To remain competitive internationally, Sri Lanka must align its export verification framework with newly emerging non-tariff regulatory demands most notably regarding labour practices and environmental sustainability.

A. Forced labour regulation and US tariff concessions

The United States strictly enforces prohibition on goods produced wholly or in part by forced labour, debt bondage, or child labour from certain countries and regions. Sri Lanka’s apparel and manufacturing sectors have long maintained an ethical edge under the slogan ‘Garments Without Guilt.’ By maintaining high labour standards, enforcing freedom of association, and ensuring fair wages, Sri Lanka has earned preferential consideration, lower risk-rating metrics, and duty reductions in Western markets compared to regional competitors.

However, to protect this advantage, trade documentation must verify not only manufacturing processes, but supply chain compliance. Exporters sourcing foreign raw yarns or components from regions implicated in forced labour risk total seizure of their exports upon arrival in the US.

B. EU Green regulations: CBAM and deforestation mandates

The European Union has introduced groundbreaking environmental regulations that directly impact international trade documentation:

EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): Requires importers in the EU to report the embedded direct and indirect carbon emissions of carbon-intensive imports (e.g., steel, aluminum, fertilisers, cement).

EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR): Prohibits the import of commodities linked to deforestation, including coffee, cocoa, rubber, timber, and palm oil.

For Sri Lankan exporters of rubber products, tea, and agricultural goods, proving ‘Sri Lankan Origin’ now requires proving environmental compliance. Customs authorities in Europe increasingly require origin certifications to be backed by geolocated plot data, environmental impact statements, and deforestation-free supply chain tracking.

Entrepôt ( Transshipment) trade and origin determination

Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment (BOI) framework provides for the establishment of enterprises engaged in entrepôt trade, recognising the country’s strategic position as a regional logistics and maritime hub. Under these BOI-approved operations, companies are permitted to import goods, undertake limited or simple processing, and subsequently re-export them to third-country markets.

However, the mere existence of a BOI approval does not automatically confer Sri Lankan origin on such goods. In many entrepôt operations, the processing carried out is intentionally limited to activities such as sorting, grading, repacking, relabelling, simple assembly, or other minor operations that fall below the threshold of substantial transformation. Where such activities do not satisfy the internationally accepted Rules of Origin or exceed the World Customs Organisation (WCO) minimum processing criteria, the country of origin of the goods remains the country where the goods were originally manufactured or where the last substantial transformation occurred.

Consequently, when issuing a Non-Preferential Certificate of Origin for such exports, Trade Chambers should accurately state the true country of origin rather than declaring Sri Lanka as the origin. Where appropriate, the certificate should clearly indicate the actual originating country-normally the country contributing the highest proportion ( Back to back Certification) of originating materials or where the substantial transformation took place-thereby ensuring transparency and preventing any allegation of origin circumvention or anti-dumping evasion.

Conclusion: Securing Sri Lanka’s export future

In international commerce, trust is a nation’s most valuable economic currency. A single compromised Certificate of Origin can tarnish an entire country’s export brand, leading to retaliatory tariffs, port delays, and lost market access. Therefore, following take home message should strictly be followed by the concerned stakeholders in safeguarding Sri Lankan brand name as a trustworthy, reliable trading partner.

1.Rules of Origin are non-negotiable legal benchmarks: Achieving the 25% local value addition or a Change of Tariff Heading is a strict requirement, and it must be paired with compliance under WCO minimal processing rules.

2.Formalise Non-Preferential Rules of Origin: Sri Lanka must establish legally binding Non-Preferential Rules of Origin criteria to safeguard domestic industries during anti-dumping and countervailing investigations.

3.Trade Chambers must serve as rigorous guardians: Non-preferential CoOs carry immense international weight. Chambers must conduct thorough due diligence, verify raw material trails, reject superficial processing claims, and strictly report third-country re-exports accurately.

4.Compliance is our greatest competitive edge: By honoring WCO and WTO standards, maintaining zero tolerance for forced labour, and upholding environmental compliance, Sri Lanka will solidify its reputation as a reliable, ethical, and world-class trading partner.

The Department of Commerce remains fully committed to supporting Sri Lankan businesses, guiding trade chambers, and technical experts in navigating the complexities of international trade rules. Together, through compliance, transparency, and operational integrity, we will safeguard Sri Lanka’s global trade standing and drive sustainable, export-led economic growth.

By scoring twin fifties for Sri Lanka Cricket XI in the three-day warm-up match against touring India played at the NCC grounds, Nishan Madushka may have probably clinched his place in the Sri Lanka eleven as opening partner to Lahiru Udara for the first Test against India starting at Galle on Saturday.

With Pathum Nissanka unavailable for the first Test after undergoing a wrist surgery, Madushka who has yet to fulfil his promise as a Test opener despite playing in 12 Tests and averaging just below 30, is the most likely choice to fill that slot.

Madushka played in Sri Lanka’s last Test series in the West Indies but failed to convert starts into big scores being dismissed for 23, 2, 6 and 20.

Madushka followed his first innings knock of 66 with another fluent innings of 63 off 73 balls (10 fours) before retiring in order to give the other batters an opportunity.

Anjala Bandara who is being looked at as a replacement wicket-keeper batsman for the injured Kusal Mendis got off the mark with a drive through backward point for four and struck three fours in his first 15 runs before lunch. He raced to a 48-ball 35 (4 fours, 1 six) before falling to Ravindra Jadeja. Has he done enough with the bat is the big question. Behind the stumps he was tidy and did not concede a single bye while India piled up 571 runs in both innings.

Nipun Dananjaya (46 off 56 balls, 5 fours) was the only other batsman to impress against the Indian bowling before Sri Lanka Cricket XI declared their second innings at 200-6, leaving India a target of 207 to chase in 45 overs. They did so successfully with Yashavi Jaiswal making up for his first innings duck with a rapid 61 off 46 balls (9 fours, 2 sixes) and India Test Captain Shubman Gill who didn’t bat in the first innings due to an impact injury to his right ring finger, testing his hand out in the second innings to score 44 off 54 balls (7 fours) and not showing any signs of discomfort.

Mohammad Siraj provided some entertainment towards the latter part of the Indian innings with a blistering 32* off 15 balls (1 fours, 4 sixes) to take India past the target to win by six wickets. – [ST]

Scores:

Sri Lanka Cricket XI 363-8 decl. and 200-6 decl. (Nishan Madushka 63*, Anjala Bandara 35, Nipun Dananjaya 46, Gurnoor Brar 2/37, Ravindra Jadeja 2/33) vs. India 357-6 decl and 214-4 (Yashavi Jaiswal 61, Shubman Gill 44, Rishabh Pant 28, Ravindra Jadeja 22*, Mohammad Siraj 32*, Keshara Nuwantha 2/57)

A Sri Lankan diplomat has reached a settlement with European Radio for Belarus, a Warsaw-based publication, following two court-ordered injunctions in defamation proceedings in Poland, resulting in the outlet removing the disputed articles, issuing an expression of regret, and agreeing to bear legal costs, according to case records and a published statement by the outlet.

Sanaka Samarasinha, a senior career United Nations official, brought the action over articles published in 2023 concerning his earlier tenure in Minsk. The outlet has since removed the material and issued a statement on its platform:

‘Guided by this mission and by respect for the individuals who are the subject of our publications, we hereby inform our readers that the articles concerning Sanaka Samarasinha have been permanently removed… The editorial team expresses its regret for the negative impact that the articles had on Sanaka Samarasinha’s good name. The parties have agreed to resolve the court dispute amicably.’

Reflecting on his years in Belarus and the reasons for bring the lawsuit, Samarasinha pointed to the work the false reports threatened to overshadow:

‘Many inspiring people worked with me on so many important initiatives in Belarus at that time-from protecting disability rights to preventing violence against women, fighting HIV/AIDS and TB, and helping addicts rehabilitate. They should not feel let down and question the important work they did because of these false reports.’

The case was heard before the Warsaw District Court, which found the headlines sensational and concluded the content did not present clear factual allegations or establish a connection to Samarasinha’s official duties. The court extended the injunction for second year to ensure compliance, and although financial penalties were under consideration, the outlet removed the material before such measures were imposed. As part of the settlement, the publisher agreed to take the articles off its website permanently and to cover the legal costs of the proceedings.

Samarasinha, who previously worked as a journalist and human rights lawyer, chose not to pursue criminal defamation proceedings, limiting his action to civil remedies instead:

‘I have always been a strong advocate of freedom of expression, and putting someone in prison for saying something they truly believe is anathema to me and should be a last resort. At the same time, with that freedom comes a responsibility to scrupulously pursue the truth. And when we fail the public in that sacred mission, we must be held accountable.’

The first day of India’s 3-day opening fixture on their short tour of Sri Lanka was not the way they would have wanted it to go when a Sri Lanka Cricket XI piled up 363-8 at the NCC grounds yesterday.

Winning the toss and batting first Sri Lanka Cricket XI got off to a splendid start with Nishan Madushka (66 off 65 balls, 11 fours, 1 six) and Ravindu Rasantha (71 off 143 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) putting on 110.

Following Madushka’s departure through a run out, Pasindu Sooriyabandara helped Rasantha add a further 61 for the second wicket. Sri Lanka Cricket XI progressed to 201-2 before the Indian spinners broke through to take four wickets for 84 in the middle phase of the innings.

But skipper Sonal Dinusha (52 off 72 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) and Ramesh Mendis (32) added 63 for the seventh wicket to take the total beyond the 300-run mark.

What was disappointing from the local team’s point of view was that seven of the batsmen got set but none were able to go and play an innings of substance.

It was a hard toil for the Indian bowlers in hot conditions, but they stuck to their task and did not let the game get away from them. Their spinners were the most successful with Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manar Suthar capturing two apiece.

This fixture, although it’s a three-day affair, has no first-class status as both teams are playing 15 players each with 11 batting and 11 fielding. This is India’s only warm-up game before the 2-Test series starts in Galle on 15 February. The match continues on its second day today. [ST]

Scores:

Sri Lanka Cricket XI 363-8 at close (Nishan Madushka 66, Ravindu Rasantha 71, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 35, Pavan Rathnayake 39, Ahan Wickramasinghe 31, Sonal Dinusha 52, Ramesh Mendis 32, Ravindra Jadeja 2/64, Kuldeep Yadav 2/76, Manav Suthar 2/33) vs India

The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) recently undertook a regional visit to the Northern Province as part of its ongoing efforts to connect member exporters with regional enterprises and support export-related business opportunities across the country.

The visit brought together an NCE delegation consisting of 20 member exporters and service providers for a series of business meetings and knowledge-sharing sessions held in Trincomalee and Jaffna.

The regional visit was conducted with the support of Seylan Bank as the Exclusive Banking Partner, Smart Marine Lanka as the Exclusive Logistics Partner, and Dialog Enterprise as the Exclusive Digital Partner.

The first engagement took place in Trincomalee on 21 July 2026 with a B2B meeting held at Hotel Green Garden from from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The session was organised in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of the Trincomalee District and brought together more than 20 regional enterprises. The meeting provided an opportunity for participants to engage directly with NCE member exporters and service providers and discuss business opportunities, market access, and areas for collaboration.

The program then moved to Jaffna on 22 July 2026 with a B2B Forum held at the Conference Hall of the District Secretariat of Jaffna from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The forum was organised in partnership with the Industrial Development Board (IDB), the Jaffna Manager’s Forum, the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Yarlpanam, and The Management Club Jaffna.

The B2B Forum was attended by Northern Province Governor Nagalingam Vethanayahan, Consulate General of India in Jaffna Head of Chancery and Consul (Commerce) Shri Shankaran Rajagopalan, IDB Provincial Director (Northern) S. Sivagangadaran, and NCE President Indhra Kaushal Rajapakse, who addressed the gathering.

The forum brought together 40 regional enterprises and provided a platform for discussions between businesses in the Northern Province and the NCE delegation. The engagement focused on creating connections between regional enterprises and exporters while identifying opportunities for business partnerships and export market participation.

Following the B2B Forum, the NCE conducted a workshop for aspiring exporters at the Conference Hall of the District Secretariat of Jaffna from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. The workshop was organised in partnership with the Export Development Board (EDB) and was attended by the Northern Province Office District Officer and Assistant Director K. Kanojan.

The workshop featured presentations by resource persons invited by the NCE on a range of topics relevant to businesses looking to enter export markets. These included standards, certification and compliance requirements, logistics and transportation, banking and financial solutions, as well as digital and social media marketing.

Sri Lanka’s export earnings surpassed $ 9 billion in the first half of 2026. While the Northern Province currently contributes less than 5% to the national GDP, it offers a wide variety of opportunities across several sectors. These include fisheries and seafood, marine resource management and sustainable aquaculture, agriculture and food processing, including value-added agricultural produce, fruits, vegetables, and regional products such as Palmyrah-based products. The province is also emerging as a location for ICT/BPM, with several India-based startups looking to expand into Sri Lanka. In addition, three major BOI zones are being developed in the Northern Province, including the Kankesanthurai (KKS) zone, which is focused on the IT sector. The region also has vast tourism potential.

Through these engagements, the NCE’s regional visit to the Northern Province highlights efforts to tap into the region’s abundant opportunities further and expand growth in the region. The visit provided member exporters and regional enterprises with opportunities to exchange knowledge, build business connections, and gain practical insights into export-related processes and requirements. The visit forms part of the Chamber’s efforts to support regional businesses and encourage greater participation in Sri Lanka’s export sector.

Lavidu Premarathna (boys) and Kaya Daluwatte (girls) were in peak form at the 10th Sri Lanka Junior Match Play Golf Championship, played for the Rukmini Kodagoda Trophy, which concluded successfully at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) on Thursday.

Kaya Daluwatte confirmed her status as one of the country’s brightest young prospects by producing another superb display to defeat Malaysia’s Deepika Nadesan 6 and 4 and capture the Girls Gold Division title.

The Boys Gold Division produced an exciting contest, with Lavidu Premarathna defeating Adhithya Weerasinghe 2 and 1 in a closely fought final.

Malaysia’s Adli Azemi claimed the Boys Silver Division crown with a convincing 4 and 2 victory over Udeera Bandara. In the Girls Silver Division, Genuli Weerakoon overcame Mushfira Muzammil by two holes after a competitive encounter.

The Bronze Division finals also produced quality golf. Dulkini Kangara defeated Hesandi Gayansa 5 and 4 in the Girls event, while Yuvan Rathiskanth caused an upset by beating Jaeden Sathasivam 2 up to secure the Boys title.

In the Copper Division, Dinara Perera emerged victorious over Kyra Cader in the Girls final. The Boys title went to Abiman Abeywardhana, who was in sensational form as he defeated Usara Nugegoda 4 and 3. [SJ]

Parliament’s Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development on Wednesday ordered a comprehensive assessment of losses caused by 19 shipments of substandard coal supplied to Sri Lanka between January and July, widening the scope of an earlier estimate that put losses from nine shipments at Rs.8.5 billion.

Committee Chairman SJB MP S.M. Marrikkar this week said all 19 shipments received from the same South African supplier during the seven-month period had been found to be substandard. In March, Marrikkar disclosed that losses from nine shipments of substandard coal supplied by the company had amounted to Rs.8.5 billion.

The Committee has now instructed officials from the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, Lanka Coal Company, National System Operator and Lakvijaya Power Plant to form a committee headed by the Energy Ministry Secretary and prepare a comprehensive report quantifying the total losses.

The assessment is also expected to account for wear and tear caused to the Lakvijaya Power Plant from the use of substandard coal.

The Committee was informed that the South African supplier had been fined $ 36.5 million in penalties for the substandard coal, while an additional $ 611,000 had been invoiced as penalties for delayed deliveries.

Marrikkar also raised concerns over delays in obtaining Cabinet approval to call fresh tenders for coal required from October, with existing stocks expected to be exhausted by mid-September.

He urged the Energy Ministry Secretary to press the Minister to expedite the approval process to avoid delays in securing the next coal requirement.