Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 24, 2026—The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is supporting New Anthony’s Farm Group (NAF) to expand operations, strengthen efficiency, create jobs and enhance rural livelihoods at one of Sri Lanka’s top poultry producers.
IFC’s investment will enable NAF—Sri Lanka’s only fully antibiotic-free poultry producer—to scale capacity, improve value chain efficiency, and expand access to safe, affordable domestic supply of poultry. The project is expected to create over 900 jobs and benefit at least 200 smallholder farmers engaged through contract farming and outgrower schemes – 22 percent of them are expected to be women and 80 percent low-income earners. Smallholders currently contribute around 40 percent of NAF’s production, and the investment will strengthen market access and improve productivity. It will also support the expansion of NAF’s retail and franchise network, making all-natural poultry more accessible to consumers across the country.
IFC will invest up to $10 million, including up to $5 million from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) Private Sector Window. At full capacity, NAF is expected to export 1,936 metric tons of poultry annually—around 10 percent of total output—marking a 29 percent increase from 2024 levels. This expansion is projected to generate up to $4.95 million in additional foreign exchange earnings by 2032. In 2024, NAF accounted for more than 90 percent of Sri Lanka’s poultry meat exports.
Why It Matters
Sri Lanka’s poultry sector is a critical source of affordable protein and a key contributor to food security. Yet smallholder farmers—who make up 85 percent of farms—account for less than 30 percent of total supply and face constraints in productivity, efficiency and market access. Strengthening value chains and integrating smallholders into formal markets will support rural incomes, job creation and export growth.
What They’re Saying
“Founded in 1986 as a smallholder enterprise, New Anthoney’s Farms Group (NAF) is proud to enter its next phase of growth through a partnership with International Finance Corporation. This collaboration represents a paradigm shift for NAF, reinforcing our commitment to world-class governance, transparency, and operational excellence, while upholding the highest standards of social and environmental sustainability. We believe this marks a transformative moment for Sri Lanka’s poultry industry and sets a new benchmark for responsible agribusiness in emerging markets.”
- Neil Suraweera, Chief Executive Officer, New Anthoney’s Farms Group
“IFC’s investment in a leading agribusiness like NAF will help build a more efficient and resilient poultry sector and support the scale-up of exports. By expanding modern, sustainable, all‑natural production, NAF is expected to increase access to fresh products and lower costs, while strengthening food security and creating jobs and opportunities for smallholder farmers across the value chain.”
- Carsten Mueller, Regional Industry Director, Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services, IFC Asia Pacific
The Bottom Line
Aligned with the World Bank Group’s Country Partnership Framework for Sri Lanka, IFC’s investment supports private sector–led job creation while strengthening food security and resilience. By expanding production of safe, affordable protein and scaling sustainable practices, the project positions Sri Lanka’s poultry sector for long-term, domestic and export-oriented growth.
About IFC
IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
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About New Anthony’s Farm Group:
New Anthoney’s Farms Group (NAF), founded in 1986, is one of Sri Lanka’s leading fully integrated poultry producers, operating across the entire value chain from breeding and feed manufacturing to processing, value-added products, distribution, exports, and retail. A pioneer in sustainable and responsible agribusiness, NAF is Sri Lanka’s first Green Certified poultry producer, the first to implement Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Measurement and Verification Certification, the first company in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa authorized to use the Sustainable U.S. Soy label, and a leader in internationally recognized Animal Welfare Certification. With annual revenues exceeding LKR 20 billion, NAF plays a vital role in national food security while supporting thousands of livelihoods through direct employment and its extensive farmer network.
About GAFSP Private Sector Window:
The Private Sector Window of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) is flagship blended finance platform for mobilizing private investment into smallholder-linked agribusinesses in frontier markets. Managed by IFC, and supported by the governments of Australia, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States, it provides long and short-term loans, credit guarantees, equity, and technical assistance to private sector companies and financial intermediaries. It links smallholder farmers to markets by improving their access to finance, technology, expertise, and inputs.
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