Dairy is the most important sub-sector in the Sri Lankan livestock industry, because of the need to address a growing demand for fresh milk and milk products, and because of its potential influence on the rural economy. The USDA’s Food for Progress program awarded a 4.5-year Market-Oriented Dairy (MOD) project to International Executive Service Corps (IESC), a Washington, DC, not-for-profit organization. The objective of MOD is to support Sri Lanka’s dairy sector and catalyze sustainable growth by strengthening the dairy sector through better technological, financial, and management practices benefitting all stakeholders and consumers along the dairy value chain. The University of Florida (UF) is working with IESC as technical experts in conducting dairy value chain assessments, identifying gaps and challenges in dairy management practices, extension services, milk quality management standards and artificial insemination (AI) services. Assessment of the dairy value chain in 2018 identified a lack of good quality and quantity of feed, along with poor dairy management practices and ineffective extension services as major constraints in improving dairy productivity in Sri Lanka. In addition, a lack of national milk quality standards that are consistent with international benchmarks and inadequate cooling facilities are significant challenges to improving milk quality. The nutritional status of cows is not suitable for optimal reproductive performance, compromising the success of AI in Sri Lanka. Based on these findings we developed a dairy assessment tool and provided comprehensive training sessions targeting extension agents, veterinarians, and farmers to promote best practices in dairy management. Beyond training, however, industry support for standardization and monitoring of milk and feed quality are needed; providing opportunities for private investment to support the dairy industry. Similar opportunities are available for forage production and delivery to producers. The broader impact of the MOD project intervention is to reduce Sri Lanka’s dependency on imported milk and contribute toward the goal of safe, self-sufficient fresh milk.