Sri Lanka’s food processing, packaging and agriculture industries came together in Colombo as the 23rd edition of ProFood ProPack & AgBiz 2026 successfully concluded after three days of exhibitions, business networking, knowledge sharing and innovation.
Held from 21 August 2026 at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall at BMICH, the flagship industry exhibition attracted nearly 30,000 visitors and brought together businesses, entrepreneurs, professionals, consumers and industry stakeholders from Sri Lanka and overseas.
Organized by the Sri Lanka Food Processors Association (SLFPA) in collaboration with Lanka Exhibition & Conference Services (Pvt) Ltd (LECS), this year’s exhibition expanded across six halls with nearly 450 stalls, including participation from nearly 30 international exhibitors.
The event provided a platform for visitors and industry professionals to explore new products, technologies and solutions while creating opportunities for partnerships and business development across the food processing, packaging and agriculture value chain.
Government Support for Industry Development
The opening ceremony was attended by Hon. Sunil Handunnetthi, Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, and Mrs. Thilaka Jayasudara, Secretary to the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development.
The exhibition was endorsed by the Ministry of Industries, highlighting the importance of the food processing and related sectors to Sri Lanka’s wider industrial and entrepreneurial development.
The presence of government representatives also reflected the growing emphasis on strengthening local industries, supporting entrepreneurs and encouraging innovation within the country’s food and agriculture ecosystem.
Innovation Takes Centre Stage
One of the key attractions of ProFood ProPack & AgBiz 2026 was the Innovation Pavilion, which brought together 14 government and private-sector universities.
The pavilion gave universities an opportunity to showcase research, technological developments and innovative solutions relevant to the food industry. It also created a space where industry professionals could discover emerging ideas with potential applications across food processing and related sectors.
The Institute of Food Science and Technology Sri Lanka (IFSTSL) further contributed to the knowledge-sharing aspect of the event by organizing an industry seminar and activities aimed at engaging university undergraduates.
These initiatives helped strengthen connections between academia and industry while encouraging young people to explore careers and opportunities within food science and technology.
SLFPA Career Connect Opens Doors for Young Talent
Career development was another major focus of this year’s exhibition.
The SLFPA Career Connect initiative was introduced to connect employers with interns, graduates and young professionals looking to build careers in the food processing sector.
SLFPA President Mr. Aruna Senanayake emphasized the importance of developing the right talent for the industry’s future, noting that opportunities and skills need to come together to help shape the next generation of food industry professionals.
The platform was officially launched by Minister Sunil Handunnetthi, who attended as Chief Guest.
By bringing companies and young professionals together under one platform, the initiative added an important career-development dimension to an exhibition traditionally focused on products, technology and business.
Supporting Sri Lanka’s SMEs
Small and medium-sized enterprises also received dedicated attention through the SME Pavilion, organized by the Ministry of Industries.
The pavilion provided emerging businesses with an opportunity to increase their visibility, showcase their products and connect with potential customers and industry stakeholders.
For smaller businesses looking to expand their presence in the market, such platforms can provide valuable exposure while helping them establish relationships within the wider industry.
The exhibition also featured the Knowledge Circle Industry Seminar, organized by SLFPA, where participants could gain insights from experienced industry professionals.
The Knowledge Hub was further expanded this year with an Industry Help Desk, designed to assist new entrepreneurs seeking information, guidance and opportunities within the sector.
Celebrating Food and Culinary Creativity
ProFood ProPack & AgBiz 2026 also offered attractions beyond the traditional exhibition floor.
The Home Cooking Challenge gave home cooks an opportunity to prepare creative dishes using products showcased by participating exhibitors.
The initiative brought a consumer-focused element to the event, demonstrating how products and ingredients featured at the exhibition could be used in everyday cooking while celebrating creativity in the kitchen.
A Strong Year for ProFood ProPack & AgBiz
With more than two decades of history, ProFood ProPack & AgBiz has established itself as an important meeting point for Sri Lanka’s food, beverage, processing, packaging and agriculture industries.
The strong visitor response and positive feedback from exhibitors have already prompted organizers to look toward an even larger edition next year.
Organizers have announced plans to expand the venue for the next exhibition, creating additional opportunities for exhibitors, businesses and visitors.
The response to the 2026 edition reflects the continued importance of the food and beverage sector in Sri Lanka, particularly as businesses seek new technologies, stronger partnerships and innovative approaches to production and market development.
With nearly 30,000 visitors, hundreds of exhibitors and participation from both local and international stakeholders, ProFood ProPack & AgBiz 2026 closed its 23rd edition with a strong showing and further reinforced its role as a major platform for Sri Lanka’s food and related industries.
Industry Partners Behind the Event
The successful conclusion of ProFood ProPack & AgBiz 2026 was supported by a broad group of industry partners.
The Platinum Sponsors were Cargills Ceylon PLC, Multivac Laraon India (Pvt) Ltd, Maliban Biscuit Manufactories (Pvt) Ltd, Nikini Automation Systems and Pakona Engineers India (Pvt) Ltd.
The Gold Sponsors included Aussee Oats Milling (Pvt) Ltd, Freelan Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd and Nestlé Lanka Ltd.
The Silver Sponsors were Akhtari Traders (Pvt) Ltd, Alli Company (Pvt) Ltd, Country Style Foods (Pvt) Ltd, CMC Engineering Export GmbH, Norfolk Foods (Pvt) Ltd, FMJ Holdings, FPT Food Process Technology Co. Ltd, Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Limited, Goma Process Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, Lablink (Pvt) Ltd, Pro Tec Global (Pvt) Ltd, Maliban Dairy & Agri Products (Pvt) Ltd, Maliban Milk Products (Pvt) Ltd, Nelna Agri Development (Pvt) Ltd, Rancrisp Marketing (Pvt) Ltd and Zellers – Maliban Biscuit Manufactories (Pvt) Ltd.
The organizing committee, led by Mr. Nadishan Guruge and Mr. Sameera Jayathilake, Co-Chairmen of the ProFood ProPack & AgBiz 2026 Organizing Committee, expressed appreciation to the exhibitors, sponsors, government institutions, universities, professional bodies, industry partners, media and visitors who contributed to the event.
As the exhibition looks ahead to its next edition, its expanded scale and strong industry response underline the growing opportunities within Sri Lanka’s food processing, packaging and agriculture sectors.
