Narratives from JITF 2025

A vendor from the Puttalam area exhibits his wares on the streetside space adjacent to the JITF 2025 event  

Abdul whose advice to all traders is to be thankful at all times, even when no one buys. A thankful attitude will win customers and change what seems bad luck to good luck

Euro Motors at JITF 2025 

By Surya Vishwa 

The Jaffna International Trade Fair (JITF) concluded on 26 January this year, at the Muttraweli grounds in Jaffna, bringing together all communities of the country at a time when the macro-economic focus is to raise the money making potential of all its citizens and thereby to give everyone an equal footage. 

A cursory view of the event this year even if one were to merely walk on the adjacent areas on the road and not enter the actual premises, would be proof that this trade fair has done justice to those who need such exposure the most. What could be seen was that there were on areas bordering the main roads, vast numbers of traders from across the country who may at times have to pay heavy fines for being on pavement space in their everyday attempt of earning a livelihood (this is something the Government should keenly look into and address). 

Blessings come to those who do not complain

Abdul Mohammed is a street vendor selling materials and clothing items. He usually travels across the country selling on roadside space when possible. He earns well, does not complain about any day-to-day issues he may face when finding areas to sell on and comments as follows.

“We believe that good luck or blessings from God comes to those who do not complain. I am fine and my business is fine,” he states. This time is the fifth time that he has enlisted for the roadside space that is technically out of the JITF parameters (and where someone can purchase from without purchasing the nominally priced entrance ticket to the trade fair). 

“I brought with me some expensive ladies clothing items and some had some light patches from being in the sunlight for long. But they too were purchased as I reduced the price to a reasonable amount. We are taught by our faith to be reasonable in trade. If there are any damages we give big discounts which enable thrifty persons to purchase and then adjust the clothing to look damage-less. I travel with a group of youth, where they sell my products as well as their own. So you see in these adjoining spaces are also purchased by me and which these youth who are my business assistants benefit by more than a salary that I give them. We must train everyone the skills to sell. 

“See, if you a pull couple of these dresses and then leave without purchasing I will not be angry with you. I will be thankful that you came to my stall and with this sense of thankfulness await someone who will come and purchase many items. This is the attitude with which I do my business and with which I sold things from 24 to 26 January here in the outer precinct of the JITF event,” comments Abdul. 

His comments are just one that show that the Jaffna International Trade Fair supports above all, the human connection that links the northern peninsula with the rest of the country.

Kubera Laxmiy printing products

Just at the exit point of the JITF, also outside the event premises but with high eye catching dividend in how it is located is the stall of Kubera Laxmiy printing products showcasing a range of sustainability focused bags. 

“We do both screen and digital printing,” states Archana Udayakumar, 27 years old, who explains how her mother started this business 30 years ago.

“My father is a temple priest. One day someone had brought an offering in a bag that had been printed in India. My mother did not at that time know anything about printing. She started a discussion one day on starting to find out if this kind of printing could be done in Sri Lanka. This was a time when there was no widespread internet or internet based mobile phones,” says Archana, the eldest of three sisters, who all support this family venture. 

“Our mother was 30 years old when she started stitching. What helped in the printing business was her earlier experience stitching clothes. Before she started investing in the machinery needed she did a screen printing course. Then she did some printing on clothes and sold them. Then Amma researched on bag printing that could be done in Sri Lanka and about the different material that could be used. She went to Pettah markets and got material samples,” explains Archana.

Her mother was not at the stall selling her bags that seemed to have very active business but a television screen was propped up showcasing her business journey and the number of youth it gives employment to.

“We give employment to many young people especially when we get large orders,” emphasises Gayathri the younger sister of Archana who is also an active member of this family run business. 

Luckypack for diverse packaging needs

Another family owned business that was seen at the JITF 2025 was the Luckypack Private Limited, founded by the family of Sarojini Manoharan and her husband, now run by her son Hiran.

This family enterprise first was focused on biscuit manufacturing about 40 years ago, the business being located in Kandy. The transition to diverse thickness based cardboard packaging was through the years of biscuit packaging experience. “Now Luckypack takes packaging orders across Sri Lanka for diverse packaging needs that includes mainly for exports,” explains Hiran. 

“We keep our standards on par with international packaging. It is a pleasure being here at the JITF which served well for our selling as well as networking purposes,” he states. 

Bombay Bazar selling Indian kurtas

Bombay Bazar, a clothing store selling Indian kurtas, run by A. Mohammed and his wife Fasmiya was another active family owned business at the JITF. 

“Here, we are charging a tax for people who just look,” he says, meaning I suppose myself and his wife laughs stating that everyone entering their stall or shop leaves by buying something on account of her husband’s banter.

“I have had a relationship with beautiful clothes from the time I was a child. After I married, my wife also shared this passion. Why not? She is lucky isn’t it – to be amongst such beautiful clothes,” he asks with a guffaw. 

This is the 15th time that Bombay Bazar which has its showroom in Colombo has exhibited at the JITF.

“We were in this trade fair from the beginning and it has always been successful for us,” opines Mohammed.

World Link Publications

It is Ivan Nanayyakara’s first recent visit to Jaffna and he is proud that his stall World Link Publications is having its bookshop at the JITF.

Just two days into the event he had succeeded in organising a specialised book exhibition and sale at the Jaffna University following a discussion he had had with a senior academic linked to the management faculty of the university. 

“I work with close links with the Singaporean publications industry and I look forward to continuing my affiliations with Jaffna that began this year with the JITF,” he declares. 

Prosperity comes with equality 

“What we wished is for this trade fair to benefit people across social strata. Prosperity comes with equality and this is one of our aims to give exposure to as diverse a set of entrepreneurs while also focusing on large scale industries. Our aim each year is for the JITF to reclaim its status as one of the apex exhibition and sale events in Sri Lanka,” states Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (LECS) CEO Aasim Mukthar. 

The event featured some of the leading brands, industries, medium and small businesses as well as emerging entrepreneurships, all receiving equal mileage in terms of exposure. The JITF has been held so far for the past 15 years hosting over 300 stalls, starting way back in 2002 when the peace process between the Government and the LTTE was ushered. At that time despite multifarious challenges LECS mustered 150 companies from Colombo who wished to showcase and sell their products in Jaffna. After this initial stage, the organisers could not continue the event because of many hurdles and constraints. 

The Jaffna Trade Fair could re-commence only in 2010, a year after the complete cessation of the conflict where this event was re-themed as the Jaffna International Trade Fair due to the interest in Sri Lanka by the international community in terms of development and rebuilding the country as well as investment. 

“We hope to work more on attracting foreign tourists for the JITF next year,” notes LECS Chief Operations Officer Husnie Rauf.

“We believe tourism in the north could benefit from this event and we have 12 months to work on making 2026 as unique an event as it was this year,” he notes. 

The products and services featured at the JITF in this 2025 edition ranged from sustainable energy solutions, construction, consumer products, travel and tourism, food and beverage, handcrafts, packaging, information and communication technology, education, automobiles, agriculture, apparel, cosmetics, the ceramic industry, hospitality, financial services, holistic wellness and healthcare.

JITF 2025 linked with industry leaders for Platinum, Gold and Silver sponsorships. The Platinum sponsor was DIMO while the Gold sponsors were Adrian Solar Green, Nippon Cement, House of S-Lon while the Silver partners included 4rever Skin Naturals, CBL Munchee, Evolution Auto, Ferentino, Maxies, Hayleys Solar, FINE, VIVA, Phoenix, Super Pvc, Sun Match, Ruhunu Foods, MAK Lubes Sri Lanka, Rhino, Sola, JTC Mango and Ellawala Horticulture Ltd., which supported the JIFT with the Silver sponsorship. The official partners for the event included the Uthayan Publishers, Tilko, Capital Television and Maha Mini Sound.

The JITF is held each year in Jaffna in collaboration with the Jaffna Chamber of Commerce and Industries alongside related authorities in the north.