The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) has partnered with SriLankan Airlines to promote Sri Lanka Expo 2027, unveiling a specially branded Airbus A321neo featuring the international exhibition’s visual identity.
The aircraft will serve as a travelling showcase for the upcoming expo, highlighting Sri Lanka’s diverse export capabilities across sectors such as agriculture, industrial manufacturing, export services, innovation and tourism.
The aircraft’s departure was marked by a special event attended by EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe, Director General Erandika Dissanayake, Director of Export Services and Sri Lanka Expo 2027 Project Lead Indumini Kodikara, Consultant Coordinator Anoma Premathilake, along with officials from SriLankan Airlines.
Sri Lanka Expo 2027 Set for January
Conducted under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board will host Sri Lanka Expo 2027 from 14 to 17 January 2027 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo.
The international exhibition is intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s position as a trade and investment destination within South Asia while providing a platform to showcase the country's export industries to international markets.
The event is expected to bring together more than 750 exhibitors, alongside over 1,500 international buyers and investors.
Beyond the main exhibition, the programme will include several high-level events, including an Investment Forum, sector-focused sessions and structured business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking meetings.
Visitors will also be able to experience Sri Lankan fashion, cuisine and culture through fashion shows, culinary demonstrations and cultural performances planned alongside the business-focused programme.
Expo Branding to Reach Key International Markets
The specially liveried Airbus A321neo will operate across several of SriLankan Airlines' key regional markets, including India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the Maldives, Malaysia, Kuwait and Thailand.
NYK’s Next-Generation RoRo Vessel AZALEA LEADER Makes First Port Call at Hambantota
Hambantota, Sri Lanka, August 2026: NYK’s Azalea Leader, a next-generation LNG dual-fuel Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC), has made its maiden call at Hambantota International Port (HIP), further strengthening the port’s role as an automotive transhipment hub in the region.
Built in 2026 and registered under the Liberian flag, the nearly 200-metre vessel arrived at HIP from Singapore carrying 4,810 vehicles for transhipment, along with a further 47 vehicles for local discharge. The vessel has a maximum capacity of approximately 7,000 vehicles, placing it among the latest generation of car carriers currently entering global service.
Strengthening Automotive Connectivity
NYK operates regular services between Singapore and Hambantota, with Azalea Leader deployed on the route for this particular voyage.
The vessel’s arrival comes amid growing vehicle volumes moving through Hambantota toward markets in the Middle East. This increasing activity is further establishing HIP as an important link between automotive supply chains across Asia and the Middle East.
The Azalea Leader also reflects the industry's ongoing move towards more fuel-efficient and lower-emission vessels. It is equipped with LNG dual-fuel propulsion, while its main engine incorporates Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) technology to help reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
HIPG CEO Wilson Qu described the vessel’s maiden call as an important development, noting that shipping lines are increasingly deploying newer and more advanced vessels through Hambantota.
He said the development highlights HIP’s growing role in the regional RoRo sector while demonstrating the port’s potential as vehicle volumes continue to increase.
EDB and SriLankan Airlines Join Forces to Promote “Sri Lanka Expo 2027”
