COLOMBO, Aug 5, 2025 (ePRESS) – The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) held a high-level meeting on August 1 with senior officials from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), aiming to fast-track Sri Lanka’s entry into Singapore’s poultry market.
The talks, held in Colombo, focused on the progress of recent audits of Sri Lankan poultry slaughterhouses and the steps needed to meet Singapore’s strict food safety standards. The meeting was led by EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe and attended by Director General Champika D. Dharmasena, top EDB officials, and senior representatives from the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation.
The discussions followed two inspection visits by SFA to Sri Lanka. The first, in March 2024, covered New Anthony’s Farm, NELNA Farm, and Ceylon Grain Elevators. The second, from July 28 to August 1, 2025, included audits of DAPH, Pussella Farm, Jaya Farm, and Bairaha Farms PLC.
“Sri Lanka is ready to deliver safe, high-quality poultry products to Singapore,” said Wijesinghe. “We are disease-free, strategically located, and offer competitive value.”
In 2024, Sri Lanka exported poultry worth USD 5.4 million — a 37% rise from the previous year — to countries such as the Maldives, Qatar, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Japan. Sri Lanka is also eyeing the Chinese market.
Several Sri Lankan poultry companies have now been shortlisted by EDB and DAPH for potential exports to Singapore. Their applications are already under review by the SFA.
Key topics discussed included regulatory requirements, food safety certifications, and ways to align Sri Lanka’s practices with Singapore’s strict import standards.
Officials from both countries ended the meeting on a positive note, expressing hope that Sri Lankan poultry will soon gain access to the Singapore market — opening the door to stronger trade ties in the region.
