COLOMBO : Throughout 2024 the Australian Government’s trade promotion arm, Austrade, undertook a range of activities to showcase Australian food and beverages targeting Sri Lanka’s growing consumer market. Australian brands such as Bega, Goodman Fielder, Masterfoods, San Remo, and Leggos were featured in Sri Lankan supermarkets. Austrade also helped Australian companies access the Sri Lankan hospitality sector through the provision of quality Australian meat, fine food and wine.
H.E. Mr. Paul Stephens launches the Australian Brands Promotion at a Keells Supermarket with Mr. Mifrah Ismail, Head of John Keells Marketing
In 2024, Austrade assisted Favourite International to source and launch in Sri Lanka Australia’s Edenvale – Alcohol removed wines. Edenvale wines are enjoying success in the marketplace, targeting the alcohol-free conscious consumer.
Wheat and pulses are an important component of Sri Lanka’s dietary needs. Australian-grown lentils, chickpeas and mung beans are among the major pulse varieties imported to Sri Lanka. The total market size of all pulse varieties is estimated to be around 160,000 metric tons annually. In fact, anyone seeking to buy lentils at Pettah Market in Colombo will find that nearly all such products are imported from Australia!
Australia is a super-power in the mining and resources sector, while Sri Lanka has a wealth of natural resource deposits, including ilmenite, graphite and mineral sands. This makes for a natural complementarity playing to both countries’ strengths. Australian firms are exploring opportunities in Sri Lanka for production and export of minerals to help Sri Lanka diversify its economy and export basket.
Australia-Sri Lanka education partnerships
In 2024, Australia maintained its place as the #1 preferred Higher Education destination for Sri Lankan students, with 19,000 studying in-country. The majority (71%) were enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, with the remainder mostly enrolled in Vocational and Training (VET) courses.
Australia and Sri Lanka have developed over 30 bilateral higher education partnerships, involving Australian Universities, Colleges, and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) providers. These renowned providers offer world-class curricula, delivering qualified and job-ready graduates who cater to both domestic and international job markets.
We take great pride in the success of Australia-Sri Lanka higher education partnership. This partnership offers Sri Lankan students access to a high-quality Australian education, with the flexibility of completing the entire course in Sri Lanka or transferring to the respective Australian university. The wide range of offerings across the STEM, tourism and hospitality, health, business, education, and IT sectors, builds Sri Lanka’s human resource capability in high-demand sectors, and opens up local and global opportunities for graduates.
Highlights in 2024 included:
- Launch of Curtin University’s campus in Colombo, making it Curtin’s fifth global campus
- First anniversary of Edith Cowan University (ECU) campus in Sri Lanka
- Fifth anniversary of University of Technology Sydney (UTS) College in Sri Lanka
- Graduation ceremonies with Monash University, Swinburne University, Victoria University, ECU, UTS, Curtin University, CMA Australia, and CPA and more!
