The EDEX Mid-Year Expo 2026, Sri Lanka’s leading education and career exhibition, is set to return to BMICH, Colombo, on September 5 and 6, bringing together education providers, employers and international exhibitors to help students, job seekers and professionals explore their next opportunities.
Open to the public from 9.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on both days, the expo will feature around 45 leading educational institutions, 10 corporate organisations and direct participation from overseas exhibitors from Finland and Japan. The event will provide visitors with a comprehensive platform to explore higher education, professional development and employment opportunities both in Sri Lanka and abroad.
His Excellency Badli Hisham Adam, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, will serve as the Chief Guest at the ceremonial opening of the event.
The expo will offer students who have completed or are preparing for their O/L and A/L examinations an opportunity to compare education pathways, explore institutions and discover alternatives beyond traditional school education. Parents and guardians can also gain valuable insights into the options available for their children.
Meanwhile, professionals and job seekers will have the opportunity to connect with employers, explore career opportunities and identify pathways for professional growth.
A major feature of EDEX Mid-Year Expo 2026 will be the Job Fair, bringing together companies from a wide range of sectors and creating opportunities for job seekers and young professionals to engage directly with potential employers.
Participating organisations represent industries including healthcare, consumer goods, agriculture, aviation, cargo and freight, telecommunications, automotive, transportation, software, banking and finance. The Job Fair is designed to connect aspiring professionals with organisations seeking talent across diverse sectors.
Commenting on the event, EDEX Chairman Mahinda Galagedara said, “EDEX's mission has always been to assist young Sri Lankans in thinking about their future goals and looking beyond the next examination. We have developed a platform that connects education, skills, and employment over the course of two decades.
“By providing young people and their families with options that can impact their next phase and, eventually, their future, the Mid-Year Expo continues this purpose.”
UNDP and Industry Ministry Join Forces to Boost Technical Capacity for Industrial Transformation
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development (MoIED) have entered into a strategic partnership to strengthen the Ministry’s institutional and technical capabilities through the establishment of an Expert Support Unit.
The initiative is aimed at accelerating industrial development, strengthening the competitiveness of entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and supporting evidence-based policymaking.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently signed by J. M. Thilaka Jayasundara, Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, and Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative of UNDP in Sri Lanka, in the presence of Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe.
Under the partnership, an embedded Expert Support Unit will be established within the Ministry to provide specialised technical, analytical and coordination expertise across key priority areas. These include SME development, industrial zone development, trade and policy, digital transformation, data analytics, skills development and international relations.
Sri Lanka’s industrial sector plays an important role in economic growth, employment generation and strengthening export competitiveness. As the Ministry’s responsibilities continue to evolve in response to emerging economic opportunities and challenges, the Expert Support Unit is expected to provide targeted and flexible expertise to enhance programme implementation, policy innovation, stakeholder engagement and strategic coordination.
Commenting on the Government’s vision for industrial development, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe said, “Sri Lanka's ambitions for industrial growth, entrepreneurship development, and export competitiveness require agile institutions equipped with the right expertise and innovative approaches.
“This partnership with UNDP represents an important step towards strengthening our capacity to develop and implement forward-looking policies, support our entrepreneurs and industries, and deliver impactful solutions that contribute to national economic transformation.
EDEX Mid-Year Expo 2026 Brings Local and International Education and Career Opportunities to Students
