EDB rolls out priority fuel scheme to safeguard export industries

Mangala Wijesinghe

Efforts are underway to ring fence the local export engine from the deepening fuel crisis with Export Development Board (EDB) fast-tracking a dedicated supply mechanism to ensure uninterrupted operations across key industries.

EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe said the government has identified exporters as a national priority, rolling out an expedited fuel allocation programme aimed at safeguarding more than 4,500 export-oriented businesses spanning apparel, tea, spices and allied sectors. The intervention comes as Middle East tensions continue to roil global energy markets, compounding domestic shortages under the QR-based rationing system.

The Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship is currently compiling critical operational data from exporters to streamline allocations, Wijesinghe noted, urging firms to submit details without delay to avoid disruptions. He underscored the EDB’s role as a central coordinating body to ensure swift and targeted distribution.

The move signals a policy shift towards insulating foreign exchange-generating sectors from supply-side shocks, as Sri Lanka seeks to preserve export momentum amid rising input costs and logistical uncertainties.

“We expect to provide all required facilities so exports can continue without any barriers,” Wijesinghe said, positioning fuel access as a frontline economic priority.

The targeted intervention is expected to stabilise production cycles and maintain delivery commitments in international markets, at a time when reliability remains critical to retaining buyer confidence and protecting the country’s fragile external sector recovery.