SMEs urged to participate in national support forum

• Chamber to connect entrepreneurs with authorities to address urgent industry challenges

Sri Lanka’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector — widely recognised as the backbone of the national economy — is currently facing one of the most challenging periods in recent history. 

Over the past few years, the SMEs have endured a series of major shocks that have disrupted businesses, weakened financial stability and threatened thousands of livelihoods across the country.

The sector first experienced a significant setback following the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, which severely affected the tourism, trade and investor confidence. 

Soon after, the global COVID-19 pandemic brought prolonged lockdowns, supply chain disruptions and a sharp decline in consumer demand.

As the businesses attempted to recover, the country faced further instability during the Aragalaya period, followed by the severe national economic crisis, which resulted in shortages, escalating costs and limited access to finance. 

Natural disasters such as Cyclone Dithwa added further pressure, while the ongoing tensions in the Middle East continue to create uncertainty for trade and remittance flows.

These successive crises have taken a heavy toll on the SMEs. The sector contributions have come down to nearly 52 percent of Sri Lanka’s gross domestic product and provides employment for over 45 percent of the national workforce, making its stability crucial for the country’s economic recovery.

Recognising the urgency of the situation, the Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries has stepped forward to support the sector by engaging directly with the industrialists and SME entrepreneurs. The chamber plans to listen to their concerns, understand the challenges faced at ground level and connect them with the relevant authorities to identify practical solutions.

As part of this initiative, the chamber will organise a Special SME Forum towards the end of this month, creating a platform for entrepreneurs to discuss the issues related to finance, regulations, market access and operational challenges.

The SME owners and industrialists across the country are strongly encouraged to participate in this important forum and take advantage of the opportunity to engage directly with the industry leaders and policymakers.