Presidential Export Awards

The Presidential Export Awards are open to companies, individuals, or any other legal entity registered in Sri Lanka and engaged in export business during 2023/24.

The Presidential Export Awards (PEA) consist of two main categories: Sectoral and Overall Awards.

Therefore, the applicant companies should check the eligibility criteria for the award categories and awards as follows:

Eligibility for Sectoral Awards:

A company, individual, or any other legal entity registered in Sri Lanka and engaged in export business during 2023/24 in any of the product and services sectors stated in the list of Sectoral awards (51 Awards).

In addition to the above, criteria for Apparel Sector and Tea Sector will be as follows:

Apparel Sector Awards

• Large Category: Annual Export Turnover >= USD 50 Mn
• Medium Category: Annual Export Turnover >= USD 5 Mn < USD 50 Mn
• Small Category: Annual Export Turnover > USD 0.5 Mn < USD 5 Mn

Tea Sector Awards

For the PEA 2023/24:

• Large Category: Annual Export Turnover >= USD 5.61 Mn
• SME Category: Annual Export Turnover < USD 5.61 Mn

Eligibility for Overall Awards

Eligibility for Overall Awards except "Emerging Exporter of the year" and the "Best SME Exporter of the Year" Awards:

• A Company, individual or any other legal entity registered in Sri Lanka.
• Annual export turnover for the financial year considered for awarding should not be less than USD 5.0 Mn

1.1 Additional Eligibility Criteria for the Overall Award "Net Foreign Exchange Earner of the Year"

Exporters who bring foreign exchange into Sri Lanka through exports and/or offshore operations can apply for this award. Inward remittances should be certified by the company bankers.

1.2 Additional Eligibility Criteria for the Overall Award "Contributor from the Regions to the Export Supply Chain"

To qualify for this award, the applicant should have established export-led supply/industrial/economic activities/farmer or producer clusters in the districts other than the Western Province (Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara Districts) in Sri Lanka.

1.3 Additional Eligibility Criteria for the Overall Awards "Innovative Export Product of the Year" and "Innovative Export Service of the Year"

Innovative products/services which were exported for the first time during the PEA year (2023/24) will be considered for this award.

Note: Short-listed applicants will be interviewed by the PEA Panel of Judges.

1.4 Additional Eligibility Criteria for the Overall Award "Woman Exporter of the Year"

This award will be applicable only to woman exporters and companies which hold the majority of shares by a woman and a woman-led company.

Note: Short-listed applicants will be interviewed by the PEA Panel of Judges.

1.5 Eligibility for the Overall Award "Emerging Exporter of the Year"

• A company, individual or any other legal entity registered in Sri Lanka.
• Exporting company, who was a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) exporter for past years and scaled up to a large exporter during the PEA year 2023/24.
• The Annual Export Turnover should be less than or equal to USD 3.15 Mn for the past years and should be greater than USD 3.15 Mn in the PEA year
• Average Exchange Rate of USD during the PEA financial year has been considered.
• Subsidiary companies could also apply for this Award if they are engaging in a completely different export business of the parent company.

1.6 Eligibility for the Overall Award "Best SME Exporter of the Year"

• A company, individual or any other legal entity registered in Sri Lanka.
• Annual Export turnover of the SME should be less than or equals to USD 3.15 Mn for the past years as well as PEA year and the number of employees should be less than or equal to 200.

Average Exchange Rate of USD during the PEA financial year has been considered.

Application should be filled online. Online Application Portal could be accessed through the following link.
PEA Online Application Portal

A printed copy of the downloaded online application should be submitted to the Chairman/CEO of Sri Lanka Export Development Board along with the following supporting documents

• Copy of Business Registration / Certificate of Incorporation
• Audited financial statements for the financial year ending
• Copy of the Form C1 or e- payment receipts (including the No. of employees) in respect of the month of issued by the EPF/ETF
• Confirmation from Bank/s receipt of export proceeds for the financial year ending as per the Format given in the application
• Signature of the Applicant (Chairman/ CEO /Partner or Proprietor)
• Validation of information by the Company Auditors with their Rubber Stamp
• If applying for “Globally Outreached Sri Lankan Brand of the Year” Award, attached the copies of
  • Brand Registration
  • Quality/ Management Certificates
• If applying for “Contributor to Sustainable Development in Exports” Award,
  • Evidence for CSR Activities
• If applying for the “Innovative Export Product of the year” Award,
  • Copies of IPR Certificates
  • Strategic Business Plan for next 3 years
• If applying for the “Organic Agriculture Products” Award,
  • Copies of Organic Certificates

A total of 14 Overall Awards are to be given during the 26^th Presidential Export Awards Ceremony. They are as follows;

• Exporter of the Year
• Net Foreign Exchange Earner of the Year
• Globally Outreached Sri Lankan Brand of the Year
• Market Diversified Exporter of the Year
• Best Exporter in Product Diversification
• Best Value-added Exporter of the Year
• Contributor to Sustainable Development in Export Industry
• Innovative Export Product of the Year
• Innovative Export Service of the Year
• Contributor from the Regions to the Export Supply Chain
• Best Performing Exporter in Emerging Markets
• Woman Exporter of the Year
• Emerging Exporter of the Year
• Best SME Exporter of the Year

Industrial Products (25 Awards)

• Apparel - Large
• Apparel - Medium
• Apparel - Small
• Hosiery
• Knitted Fabric
• Dry Rubber Products
• Latex Rubber Products
• Ship Building & Repairs
• Boat & Pleasure Craft Building
• Gems
• Diamond
• Jewellery
• Ceramics & Porcelain Based Products
• Furniture & Wooden Products
• Chemical & Paint Products
• Handloom, Crafts & Lifestyle Products
• Toys, Games & Sport Requisites
• Footwear & Leather Products
• Light Engineering Products
• Transport & Automobile Components
• Value Added Minerals
• Electronics & Electrical Products
• Stationery & Paper Products
• Packaging
• Pharmaceuticals

Agricultural & Fisheries Products (18 Awards)

• Tea - Large
• Tea - SME
• Processed Food
• Beverages
• Cereal & Confectionery
• Processed Fruits, Nuts & Vegetables
• Fresh Fruits, Nuts & Vegetables
• Seafood & Aquaculture Products
• Ornamental Fish
• Spices & Allied Products
• Essential Oils, Oleoresin & Condiments
• Herbal & Ayurveda Products
• Floriculture
• Coconut Kernel Products
• Coconut Shell Products
• Coconut Substrate Products
• Coconut Fiber Products
• Organic Agriculture Products

Export Services (8 Awards)

• ICT
• BPM/KPM
• Logistic Services
• Hub Operations & Entrepot Trade
• Wellness & Health Services
• Marine & Offshore Services
• Education Services
• Construction Services

Yes, your company can apply for both Overall and Sectoral Awards complying with the eligibility criteria of each award.

You cannot apply for the Merit Certificates. The Merit Certificates will be awarded for deserving sectors as approved by the PEA Panel of Judges considering the contribution of those sectors to the total exports in PEA year and the performance of the applicant companies.

Yes. The SLEDB is pleased to introduce a new export award for the year 2023/24, "The Innovative Export Service of the Year 2023/24."

"The Innovative Export Service of the Year 2023/24" award is a new recognition designed to honor outstanding innovation in export services sector.

An application fee of Rs. 25,000/= per company will be charged per financial year.

An application fee of Rs. 25,000/= per company will be charged per financial year.

One of the following methods can be used to make the payment and the proof of payment should be submitted with the printed copy of the application.

1. Make the payment online through the PEA Online Application Portal
   (5% Bank Service Charge will be applicable)


2. Deposit/transfer to the EDB bank account(Please mention your Company ID No. stated in your online application-Company Name (Eg: PEA222-Company Name):
   Account Name: Sri Lanka Export Development Board
   A/C No.: 306605
   Bank: Bank of Ceylon - Lakeview Branch


3. Make the payment directly to the EDB Finance Division.
   Cheques should be drawn in favour of "Sri Lanka Export Development Board".

You may contact the following officials for any clarifications regarding the application:

• Ms. Saumya Kannagara-Deputy Director-Marker Development 011-2300721
• Ms. Apsara Arampath-Assistant Director-Marker Development 011-2300722 or 011-2300705-11, Ext: 271
• Ms. Manuka Perera-Assistant Director 011-2300722 or 011-2300705-11, Ext: 267

• The preliminary evaluation of the award winners will be done by a Screening Committee comprising senior EDB officials, an officer from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and an officer from Sri Lanka Customs.


• The final selection of the Award winners will be made by an eminent panel of Judges chaired by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court.