By: Staff Writer
July 15, Colombo (LNW): Landmark roadmap to revitalise local industry unveiled at fourth Sri Lanka Coffee Festival in Kandy
In a significant step towards revitalising Sri Lanka’s specialty coffee sector, the country’s Department of Export Agriculture (DEA) has joined hands with Australia’s Market Development Facility (MDF) to develop a comprehensive roadmap aimed at strengthening and expanding the local coffee industry.
This initiative, announced at the fourth-annual Sri Lanka Coffee Festival held in Kandy on July 8–9, 2025, underscores deepening bilateral collaboration between the two nations and marks a turning point for Sri Lanka’s long-overlooked coffee sector.
The new roadmap, which will be developed under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the DEA and MDF, will assess the current status of the market, identify gaps, and propose key action points to enhance production quality and competitiveness.
MDF will support the DEA by improving coffee processing methods, conducting sector-relevant training, and providing training modules to farmers and processors across the country.
Australia has supported Sri Lanka’s coffee revival journey since 2017 through MDF. Speaking at the festival, Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Lalita Kapur said, “It’s been a long but rewarding road and we’re pleased to see the sector gaining greater recognition every year. Coffee is one of the sectors that demonstrates the benefits of private investment, helping boost Sri Lanka’s export earnings and inclusive growth.”
The festival, jointly organised by the DEA, MDF and the Lanka Coffee Association (LCA), also commemorated 200 years of coffee cultivation in Sri Lanka with the launch of a commemorative stamp. It attracted farmers, processors, roasters, retailers, baristas, coffee enthusiasts, and investors, reflecting the growing interest in Sri Lankan specialty coffee both locally and internationally.
DEA Director General Damayanthi Samarasinghe hailed the occasion as a pivotal moment for the sector. “As coffee becomes a priority crop, this partnership aims to expand high-quality production and develop a national roadmap that opens up new trade and investment opportunities — especially with markets like Australia,” she noted.
Adding global prestige to the event, Sunalini Menon, President of Coffeelab India and known as “Asia’s First Lady of Coffee,” participated virtually, sharing valuable insights on international standards and quality benchmarks.
The festival also recognised excellence in the sector by awarding the Best Farmer and Best Processor, while schoolchildren were celebrated through a coffee-themed art competition. Visitors enjoyed barista demos, coffee tastings, and interactive discussions on emerging market opportunities and innovations in coffee cultivation and processing.
Chairperson of the Lanka Coffee Association Kushan Samararatne called the event a milestone in unifying the coffee sector. “This partnership demonstrates how far we’ve come. Sri Lanka is steadily gaining ground as a serious player in the specialty coffee world.”
The festival was supported by Colombo Coffee Company as the Gold Sponsor and Hatton National Bank as the official Banking Partner, signalling strong commercial interest in Sri Lanka’s evolving coffee industry.
