Trade
The International Food & Drink Event (IFE) 2026, a leading UK trade exhibition for the global food and beverage industry, was held at ExCeL London from 30 March to 1 April. It brought together international buyers, distributors, and manufacturers to showcase products and explore commercial opportunities.
The Sri Lanka High Commission (SLHC) in London hosted a meeting on 9 February 2026 with Sri Lankan women entrepreneurs as part of the first-ever women-focused trade mission, SheTrades from Sri Lanka to the United Kingdom (UK). The programme is part of the International Trade Centre (ITC) SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme, in collaboration with the UK Government, the British High Commission in Colombo, and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB).
The Sri Lanka–United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce in London (SLUKCC), together with the Sri Lanka High Commission in London (SLHC), hosted a panel discussion titled “Building Stronger Trade Bridges Between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom” at the SLHC premises on 27 January 2026, with over 40 participants in attendance.
Sri Lanka’s apparel industry, having its country pavilion for the first time, was making a strong presence at the Source Fashion 2026, held from 13 to 15 January 2026 at Olympia London, one of the UK’s and Europe’s leading apparel sourcing exhibitions. The Sri Lanka Pavilion was officially inaugurated on 13 January with performing a ribbon-cut ceremony graced by HE Nimal Senadheera, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in the UK and Lord Hannett of Everton OBE, UK’s Trade Envoy to Sri Lanka, in the presence of apparel and fashion industry representatives, invitees, exhibitors, and the officials from the EDB- Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka High Commission in London
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in London, in collaboration with the Institute for Future Creations (TIFC), London College of Fashion at the University of the Arts London (UAL), and the EU Culture Relation Platform, successfully hosted Crafting Sri Lanka’s Global Future: Exhibition & Dialogue 2025 on 3 December 2025 at the Sri Lanka High Commission. The event brought together around 70 participants, including academics, designers, and creative-industry partners from the UK, EU, and Sri Lanka, to celebrate the country’s craft heritage, and international collaborations, as part of the Creative Sri Lanka 2030 initiative.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka in London, in partnership with Capital Metals PLC, hosted a joint promotional event to facilitate discussions on emerging opportunities within Sri Lanka’s mineral sector, with particular focus on the Taprobane Minerals Project. The event brought together UK-based investors, corporate representatives, fund managers, and industry specialists for a constructive exchange aimed at fostering dialogue and exploring prospective investment avenues associated with the Taprobane Minerals Project, which is listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange through its Sri Lankan company, Ambeon Capital PLC.
In collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), the High Commission of Sri Lanka in London proudly marked a remarkable level of participation by the nation’s tourism industry at WTM 2025, held from 4–6 November 2025 at the ExCel London. A delegation of 92 leading travel and tourism partners represented the island, highlighting its vibrant and rapidly growing tourism sector to an international audience. The Sri Lanka Pavilion provided a dynamic platform for B2B meetings, networking, and collaboration between global travel and hospitality professionals.
