# How to Vet a Sri Lankan Supplier Before You Order

Source: https://srilankaexport.com/ta/vet-sri-lanka-supplier-guide/

By the [SriLankaExport.com Trade Desk](https://srilankaexport.com/ta/our-trade-desk/) · researched & fact-checked against primary sources

The single biggest risk in cross-border sourcing isn’t price. It’s dealing with a supplier who can’t deliver what they promised, or isn’t who they say they are. Sri Lanka has an excellent base of genuine exporters, but as with any market, due diligence protects you. Here’s a practical framework for vetting a Sri Lankan supplier before you wire money.

### The Checklist

Check |
What to ask for |

Legal entity |
Business Registration number; company name on documents matches the bank account |

Export track record |
EDB registration/listing, references, years exporting, sample export docs |

Product proof |
COA, certifications (organic/HACCP/ISO), factory photos/video call |

Capacity |
Can they actually fulfill your volume and lead time? |

Banking |
Beneficiary name = registered company; bank in Sri Lanka |

Red flags: a bank account in a personal name or a different country than the company; pressure to pay 100% up front to a new supplier; reluctance to do a video call or provide a sample; prices far below the market. Any one of these warrants slowing down.

### Reduce Risk in Practice

- Start with a sample order against an agreed spec before committing to bulk.

- Use staged payments (e.g. deposit + balance against shipping docs or an LC) rather than 100% upfront, see our [payment terms guide](/sri-lanka-import-payment-terms-guide/).

- Consider third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek) before shipment for large orders.

- Verify documents: Certificate of Origin, COA, and the export license for regulated goods.

### How SriLankaExport Helps

Vendors on this marketplace complete an onboarding review of their business registration, bank details and submitted certificates, shown as the [SLE-Verified Supplier](/verified-exporters/) status. This is an internal marketplace review to raise the floor on trust; it is not a government endorsement, and you should still run the checks above and verify final documents with the issuing authority before shipment.

#### Source from Reviewed Exporters

Browse Sri Lankan exporters whose business documents have been reviewed by our marketplace team.

[Browse Verified Exporters →](/verified-exporters/)

SLE

SriLankaExport.com Trade Desk

Export specialists at Harker International (Pvt) Ltd, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Every guide is researched and verified against customs tariffs, EDB data and the relevant international standards. [Our editorial standards & team →](https://srilankaexport.com/ta/our-trade-desk/)