Northern Investment Summit 2026

Northern Investment Summit 2026 ends with high focus on key sectors

Sri Lanka, Jan. 23 -- The Northern Investment Summit 2026 (NIS26), aimed at promoting domestic and foreign investment in Sri Lanka's Northern Province, concluded on January 22 at the Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre, Jaffna, following a two-day programme held on January 21 and 22.

Organised by The Management Club (TMC) Sri Lanka, the summit focused on highlighting investment opportunities in key sectors including agriculture and fisheries, tourism, education and information technology, and renewable energy, with the objective of increasing the Northern Province's contribution to the national economy while generating employment and encouraging youth and women entrepreneurship.

The inaugural session was attended by Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Prime Minister's Secretary G. A. Saputhanthri, Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma, Indian Consul General in Jaffna Sai Murali, Northern Province Governor N. Vedanayahan, Members of Parliament, senior government officials, diplomatic representatives, and a large number of local and foreign investors.

Several state institutions including the Board of Investment, Export Development Board, Tourism Promotion Bureau, National Enterprise Development Authority, and the Northern Provincial Council participated in the summit, alongside representatives from foreign missions and private sector stakeholders.

The summit is considered significant as it marked the first large-scale, structured investment forum held in the Northern Province since the end of the conflict, signalling renewed efforts to integrate the region into national and international investment frameworks amid Sri Lanka's broader economic recovery process.

Northern Investment Summit 2026: Turning vision into action

^{FT Tuesday, 30 December 2025}

Meeting with Northern Province Governor N. Vethanayagan

The Management Club (TMC) is set to ignite a new chapter of economic transformation with the Northern Investment Summit 2026 (NIS26), taking place on 21 and 22 January 2026 at the iconic Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre. Held under the powerful theme “Empowering Growth, Insightful Innovations,” the summit promises to be more than a conference—it will be a catalyst for bold ideas, strategic partnerships, and long-term investment in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province.

Designed as a high-impact platform, NIS26 will bring together Government leaders, business pioneers, global and diaspora investors, development agencies, and academia to unlock the region’s vast yet underexplored potential. With the Northern Province currently contributing just 4.5% to national GDP, the summit aims to transform untapped opportunity into inclusive growth—benefiting not only the North, but the entire nation.

In an interview with Siyatha TV, TMC Immediate Past President and NIS26 Project Chairman Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa described the summit as a landmark initiative—the first time a private-sector institution has taken the lead in a regional development agenda of this scale. The idea was sparked by TMC’s dynamic Jaffna branch, established during his presidency and comprising professors, senior bankers, and professionals committed to accelerating regional progress.

Meeting with Industry and Entrepreneurship Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe

Momentum intensified through high-level engagement with key stakeholders. A pivotal milestone was the meeting with the Consulate General of India in Jaffna, where Consul General of India Shri Sai Murali S., expressed strong and enthusiastic support for the summit. His active involvement was instrumental in securing the Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre as the prestigious venue for NIS26—underscoring the depth of Indo-Sri Lankan collaboration and the confidence of regional partners in the summit’s vision.

A defining moment in the summit’s journey was a high-impact hybrid consultative meeting chaired by the Northern Province Governor N. Vethanayagan, which brought together an unprecedented cross-section of stakeholders committed to the region’s development. The session saw physical participation from over 40 institutions and private-sector organisations, alongside virtual engagement from 41 development partners, INGOs, overseas investors, and local private investors. This inclusive and future-focused dialogue enabled open exchange of ideas, alignment of priorities, and collective ownership of the Northern development agenda. The strong turnout and depth of engagement underscored growing confidence in the Northern Province as a credible, investment-ready destination and reaffirmed the shared resolve to convert strategy into action through the Northern Investment Summit 2026.

What began as a bold proposal quickly gained momentum. With strong backing from the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Finance, Board of Investment (BOI), Export Development Board (EDB) and several other State institutions, NIS26 has evolved into a nationally endorsed public–private collaboration, where TMC acts as facilitator.

To ensure credibility and readiness, TMC undertook an extensive consultative process across all five districts of the Northern Province. With the support of the Governor, district secretaries, and institutions such as the Industrial Development Board (IDB) and National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA), district-level data was captured using a standardised framework.

TMC’s knowledge partner KPMG is now consolidating this intelligence into five district-specific, investment-ready proposals, which will be unveiled to local, international, and expatriate investors. These proposals represent real, bankable opportunities—carefully vetted and aligned with national development priorities.

Meeting with Consulate General of India in Jaffna Shri Sai Murali S.

NIS26 focuses on four strategic pillars that define the future of the Northern Province:

Agriculture and Fisheries – unlocking value through sustainable aquaculture, sea cucumber and seaweed farming, and Agri-innovation
Education and IT – positioning the North as Sri Lanka’s next IT and knowledge hub
Tourism – developing authentic, high-value tourism rooted in culture, heritage, and nature
Energy – accelerating renewable and sustainable energy solutions

These are strengthened by SMEs and startup ecosystems, empowering local entrepreneurs and connecting them to global markets.

Infrastructure has emerged as the single most critical enabler. TMC has actively advocated for enhanced air, land, and rail connectivity, including expansion plans for Jaffna International Airport, a dedicated container rail line, and a central logistics hub. Resolving these bottlenecks is expected to unlock a surge of interest—particularly from India and the wider region.

Signing MoU with Lions District 306 D12

Equally vital is policy innovation. Rajapaksa emphasised the need for a special incentive scheme for the Northern Province, supported by Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), to accelerate investment while easing fiscal pressures on the State.

NIS26 has already attracted strong institutional and private-sector support. HNB has come on board as the official banking partner, alongside key partners such as the International Distillers Ltd. (IDL), National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA), Industrial Investment Board (IDB), National Chamber of Exporters (NCE), Staff and Education development Association (SEDA), and international business councils. Further strengthening community and social impact, an MoU has been signed with the Lions District 306 D12, reflecting broad-based support for inclusive development.

International outreach continues to build momentum, with MoUs signed with organisations such as the Australia Sri Lanka Business Council and growing engagement from global investor networks.

As envisaged by NCE Secretary General/CEO Shiham Marikar, the summit will serve as a vital economic bridge—integrating the Northern Province more closely with national and international value chains.

With the NIS26 website live (https://summit.mhstaging2.com/), registrations open, and investor inquiries already flowing in, the summit is poised to unlock a robust investment pipeline over the next three to five years

An invitation to invest, collaborate, and co-create the future of the Northern Province.

Local and international investors, regional industrialists, the Sri Lankan expatriate community, policymakers, and innovators are invited to join this landmark initiative and be part of a story where vision becomes opportunity, and opportunity becomes national progress.