Daraz Sri Lanka’s 11.11 Biggest Sale of the Year sparks record early demand

Daraz Sri Lanka’s 11.11 Biggest Sale of the Year has opened to a flying start, with 300,000 customers served in the very first hour of the campaign. The response underlines how 11.11 has become a fixture in Sri Lanka’s shopping calendar, bringing together unbeatable prices, much-loved brands and a new wave of online shoppers from every corner of the country.

The campaign opened to a surge of traffic across the app and website, reflecting how customer participation around 11.11 has grown over the years. Within minutes of going live, traffic surged across the app and website as shoppers rushed to secure limited-time deals, fastest finger flash sales and category-wide offers.

What Sri Lankans Bought First

Early data from the first hour shows a strong mix of value-driven purchases and lifestyle upgrades. Among the top-selling items were the IGL 32" Smart LED Frameless TV, Aspor power banks, Pelwatte powder packs, Moose men’s slim fit chino shorts and multi-purpose 16 ft ladders. From screens and power to groceries, fashion and home improvement, the first hour basket reflects how customers are using 11.11 both to treat themselves and to stock up on everyday essentials at better prices.

Categories with the Fastest Growth

Several categories have already broken ahead of the pack. Audio products, beauty and skin care, apparel, furniture, mobiles and home appliances are recording the highest growth at the start of the campaign. This combination speaks to changing consumer priorities. Shoppers are looking to upgrade their entertainment experience, refresh wardrobes ahead of the festive season, invest in more comfortable homes and replace or upgrade key household appliances, all while locking in savings available only during 11.11.

Brands Shoppers Loved Most

The first hour also highlighted which brands are winning the greatest trust and attention on Daraz. Moose Clothing Company, Amanté, Marvel, CBL, Apple, Baby Cheramy, Phoenix, Innovex, Swisstek and V TEC Furniture feature among the most popular brands so far, all of them on DarazMall with an authenticity guaranteed promise backed by a 3X moneyback guarantee and a 14-day return policy that reassures customers they are buying genuine products with added peace of mind. For these brands, 11.11 has become a strategic moment to reach new shoppers, clear limited stock, and test new price points at scale.

New Shoppers, New Regions and Rising Digital Payments

Early 11.11 numbers also point to important shifts in how Sri Lankans shop online. 53% of buyers in the first hour came from outside the Western Province, which confirms that the campaign is not just a Colombo centric phenomenon but a truly island wide event. At the same time, 25% of customers were shopping on Daraz for the very first time. This influx of new users indicates that large scale campaigns such as 11.11 are playing a key role in onboarding more Sri Lankans into e-commerce and building long term digital habits.

Digital payment adoption is also on the rise. 47% of purchases in the first hour were made using wallets and bank cards. This shift toward cashless payments is important for the wider ecosystem, since it improves convenience for customers, reduces reliance on cash handling, and strengthens the foundations for a more secure and efficient digital economy.

Speed, Excitement and Rewards

Beyond the headline numbers, 11.11 continues to deliver on its promise of excitement and speed. A total of 5,500 lucky buyers enjoyed “fastest finger” flash sales in the early hours of the campaign, securing special products at heavily discounted prices. Daraz’s logistics network also moved quickly into action. The first delivery of the campaign was successfully completed by 7 AM, only a few hours after the sale went live, demonstrating the strength of the company’s end-to-end fulfilment capabilities.

Looking Ahead

“The response we have seen in just the first few days of this year’s 11.11 is truly humbling. Behind every order is a family trying to stretch their budget a little further, or someone finally treating themselves after a long year. Our responsibility is to honour that trust by making sure every visit to Daraz feels rewarding, whether it is for groceries and daily essentials or a long planned big- ticket upgrade." shared Rukshan Xavier, Chief Commercial Officer, Daraz Sri Lanka.

With such a strong start, Daraz Sri Lanka’s 11.11 Biggest Sale of the Year is set to continue driving record engagement over the coming days. As more shoppers avail the lowest prices of the year, the campaign is expected to bring even more value to households while giving local and international brands a powerful platform for growth.