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Sri Lanka began developing markets for fresh fruit and vegetables in Gulf countries during the early 1980s, alongside the establishment of its diplomatic and commercial presence in the region. Agricultural exports were part of efforts to diversify beyond the country's traditional export products.
The initiative coincided with the launch of Export Production Villages (EPVs) by Minister Lalith Athulathmudali. The model linked rural growers with exporters, with fruit and vegetables among the priority products. Gulf countries were identified as potential markets, partly due to their Sri Lankan communities.
Initial shipments highlighted shortcomings in export packaging. In Kuwait, Sri Lankan fresh produce initially arrived in cane baskets, while competing origins used cardboard boxes. The packaging resulted in damage during transport. Following feedback to Sri Lanka's trade ministry, exporters switched to cardboard boxes, and a packaging expert from the Commonwealth Secretariat and an official from the EDB visited Kuwait to assess requirements.
Further problems emerged when shipments were supplied to Salmiya supermarket. Sri Lankan vegetable boxes collapsed when stacked in cold storage, damaging the produce. Packaging specialists subsequently studied systems used by competing origins at the supermarket. Following adjustments, shipments continued, allowing Sri Lankan suppliers to serve customers beyond the ethnic retail segment.
Sri Lanka also trialled maritime exports of vegetables. A Sri Lankan exporter arranged a container shipment of cabbages to a major fruit and vegetable importer in Kuwait, whose existing suppliers included Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. The importer was satisfied with the quality and price and intended to purchase additional volumes. However, the exporter later discontinued shipments because of problems within Sri Lanka's domestic supply chain.
By 1985, Sri Lankan fruit and vegetables had established a presence in Gulf Cooperation Council markets. The export development process also identified domestic supply chain constraints affecting continuity.
A substantial share of the Sri Lankan produce sold through Kuwaiti supermarkets originated from the EPVs. Exporters were encouraged to source directly from these newly established growing areas, linking village-level cultivation with Gulf export markets.
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