The 9th edition of the Boat & Marine Show, organized jointly by the Chamber of Marine Industries of Sri Lanka (CMISL), the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), and the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, was successfully held from 30 January to 1 February 2026 at Port City, Colombo. The event showcased the country’s capabilities in marine tourism, recreational boating, yachting, and boat building, with a strong focus on export markets.
The EDB, in collaboration with industry stakeholders, has undertaken and continues to initiate various activities aimed at developing and promoting this sector.
Among these initiatives, Boat Show Sri Lanka, launched in 2008 and held biennially, stands out as a key promotional event. The show serves as a vital platform for industry players to showcase and market their products to potential clients, while also fostering investment opportunities in areas such as boat and shipbuilding, training, marine infrastructure, and marine tourism.
The global boat and shipbuilding industry is a multi-billion-dollar sector that plays a critical role in international trade, tourism, defence, logistics, and transportation. According to global projections, the ship and boatbuilding market is expected to grow from over USD 182 billion in 2024 to nearly USD 580 billion by 2035. This remarkable growth signals immense opportunity.
As an island nation with skilled craftsmanship, a strategic location, and growing technical expertise, Sri Lanka is well-positioned to capture a greater share of this expanding global market. The local boat-building industry has already demonstrated its ability to produce high-quality vessels that meet international standards, combining innovation with precision and craftsmanship.
A total of 50 leading boat-building, accessory manufacturing, and charter companies displayed boat-related products and services in 90 stalls, including on-water displays of boats and catamarans. Five foreign exhibitors also presented their products at the show. Exhibitors noted that the event was an excellent platform to enhance Sri Lanka’s international profile as both a marine tourism destination and a manufacturing hub for high-quality boats.
The show was ceremonially inaugurated by Janitha Ruwan Kodituwakku, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, in the presence of many other dignitaries.
The EDB organized visits by international buyers and journalists from the UK, Maldives, India, Singapore, and other countries, and facilitated B2B meetings with Sri Lankan boat builders to explore future business ventures. Several local companies established promising business contacts with visiting buyers for future collaboration.
Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, stated that “the marine and boat-building sector has been identified as a key export contributor in the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) due to its strong potential to generate foreign exchange, create skilled employment, attract investment, and enhance Sri Lanka’s global brand.”
He further added, “Events such as the Boat & Marine Show play a vital role in this journey. This show provides a powerful platform to showcase Sri Lanka’s capabilities, connect local manufacturers with international buyers, promote investment opportunities, and reinforce our image as a marine tourism destination and a manufacturing hub for high-quality boats and marine products.”
In parallel with the exhibition, the International Conference on “Boating as a Lifestyle Charting Sri Lanka’s Course Toward Nautical Tourism” was held on 31 January 2026 at the Kingsbury Hotel. Local and international speakers and panelists discussed topics such as charting Sri Lanka’s course toward nautical tourism, national potential in the sector, the boat-building industry and investment promotion, and gearing for blue-economy sustainability.
The conference created a space for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and policy alignment, while promoting Sri Lanka as a preferred nautical tourism destination—a sector with strong potential to increase foreign exchange earnings and generate high-value tourism experiences.
