The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in partnership with the British High Commission in Colombo, successfully held a hybrid Awareness Session titled “Enhancing Export Opportunities to the UK through the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS)” on February 11, 2026. The event, conducted both at the EDB premises and virtually via Zoom, drew the participation of nearly 200 exporters and export-related stakeholders nationwide.
The session aimed to equip Sri Lankan exporters with practical insights into recent developments under the United Kingdom’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) and to raise awareness about the opportunities for expanding exports to the UK market.
The programme began with welcome and opening remarks by Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board. He highlighted the United Kingdom’s importance as a key export destination for Sri Lanka and emphasized the DCTS’s role in providing enhanced market access and simplified trade procedures for Sri Lankan exporters. Mr. Wijesinghe also expressed gratitude to His Excellency Andrew Patrick, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, for his guidance and support throughout the collaboration and thanked the British High Commission for its continued cooperation with the EDB.
The main presentation was delivered by Ms. Ellie Parker, Regional Trade for Development Advisor for South, Southeast, and Central Asia at the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Her presentation, titled “The UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme – Recent Improvements and How to Claim Preferences,” offered detailed guidance on key reforms under the DCTS, eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and practical steps exporters can take to effectively claim tariff preferences.
An interactive Question and Answer session followed, during which exporters raised practical concerns related to compliance requirements, documentation, rules of origin, and utilization of preferences. The discussion provided clarity on leveraging the DCTS framework to enhance competitiveness in the UK market.
The programme concluded with closing remarks by Mr. E. L. K. Dissanayake, Acting Director General of the EDB, who thanked the resource persons, collaborating partners, and exporters for their active participation. He reiterated the EDB’s commitment to supporting exporters through targeted awareness programmes and capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s export performance.
Overall, the awareness session was highly productive and well-received, reinforcing the EDB’s ongoing efforts to equip Sri Lankan exporters with timely knowledge and practical tools to capitalize on emerging international trade opportunities under schemes such as the UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).
