To advance the Green Public Procurement (GPP) implementation in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) of the Government of Sri Lanka, in partnership with the EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component (PSC), convened a stakeholder workshop in Colombo on 26 January 2026. This event marked a critical milestone in the second stage of the Technical Advisory Project: "Elevating Sustainable/Green Public Procurement (S/GPP) in Sri Lanka."
The workshop was inaugurated with welcome remarks by the Director (EP&E), Ministry of Environment and opening remarks from Mr. E. A. Rathnaseela, Director General of the Department of Public Finance and the Co-Chair of the Interagency Expert Committee of GPP Program. Mr. K. R. Uduwawala, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, highlighted the critical importance of Green Public Procurement (GPP) in Sri Lanka while addressing the audience and outlined the key priority actions being undertaken by the Ministry to advance sustainability.
Sri Lanka achieved a significant policy milestone in 2023 with the Cabinet approval of the National Policy on Green Procurement (NPGP). This framework, supported by the 2024 Public Procurement Guidelines, aimed to integrate environmental considerations into the public sector’s massive purchasing power.
The workshop served as a key platform for 38 key stakeholders—including representatives from the National Procurement Commission (NPC), the Ministry of Finance represented by the Department of Public Finance, Ministry of Environment and the Interagency Expert Committee (IAEC) and Sub-Committees, represented by standards bodies, testing bodies, Sri Lanka Accreditation Board, Ministry of Industries, Consumer affairs authority, government agencies and private sector representatives—to align on the roadmap for GPP operationalization.
During the event, experts highlighted that public procurement is one of the most powerful tools for market transformation; by making environmental requirements explicit, the government can stimulate demand for sustainable products and provide "green" providers with wider market access. SWITCH-Asia conducted in 2024 an Assessment of the landscape of Sustainable Public Procurement in Sri Lanka, which helped experts inform the discussions.
Participants explored the development of a green product procurement list and reviewed a methodology for selecting environmentally friendly products, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between government entities and stakeholders. The SWITCH-Asia PSC Technical Advisory Project presented its planned actions to strengthen institutional readiness including the development of formal GPP Guidelines, an Implementation Plan, a Legal Review and specialized Curricula to build the capacity of procurement officers across the island. The workshop concluded with a summary of agreed-upon next steps and a validation of concepts for upcoming project activities.
By fostering coordinated action between finance, environment, and procurement authorities, Sri Lanka is now positioned to leverage public spending as a driver for a low-carbon, resource-efficient future.
For more information on EU SWITCH-Asia activities in S/GPP, contact:
Ms. Elodie Maria-Sube, EU Policy Development and Stakeholder Engagement Expert
SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component
Learn more here.
