Sri Lanka’s NCPI Inflation Steady at 8.1% in September as Food Prices Accelerate

Oct 22, 2026 2 weeks ago 1 min read
Sri Lanka’s NCPI Inflation Steady at 8.1% in September as Food Prices Accelerate

COLOMBO, October 22, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s headline inflation, measured by the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), remained unchanged at 8.1% year-on-year in September 2026,…

Colombo Stocks Close Lower as Crossings Drive Turnover Above Rs. 1.5 Billion

Oct 22, 2026 2 weeks ago 2 min read
Colombo Stocks Close Lower as Crossings Drive Turnover Above Rs. 1.5 Billion

COLOMBO, October 22, 2026 — Colombo stock market indices ended lower as price declines in Commercial Bank, Carson Cumberbatch and Hayleys weighed on the All…

Rain to Continue Across Sri Lanka on October 23; Southwest Wet Weather Expected Until October 27

Oct 22, 2026 2 weeks ago 2 min read
Rain to Continue Across Sri Lanka on October 23; Southwest Wet Weather Expected Until October 27

COLOMBO, October 22, 2026 — Rain is expected across Sri Lanka throughout October 23, while wet weather in the southwestern parts of the country is…

Trump Says US Is Not Negotiating with Iran, Signals Developments ‘Fairly Soon’

Oct 22, 2026 2 weeks ago 2 min read
Trump Says US Is Not Negotiating with Iran, Signals Developments ‘Fairly Soon’

WASHINGTON, October 22, 2026 — US President Donald Trump said Washington is not negotiating with Iran and indicated that developments could come soon, as uncertainty…

Sri Lanka’s Tea Export Earnings Top US$1 Billion as Rupee Revenue Rises Despite Dollar Decline

Oct 21, 2026 2 weeks ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka’s Tea Export Earnings Top US$1 Billion as Rupee Revenue Rises Despite Dollar Decline

COLOMBO, October 21, 2026 — Sri Lanka earned approximately US$1.083 billion from tea exports during the first nine months of 2026, crossing the billion-dollar mark…

Sri Lanka’s Exports Hit Record US$1.38 Billion, but September Current Account Posts US$128 Million Deficit

COLOMBO, November 2, 2026 — Sri Lanka recorded its highest-ever monthly merchandise export earnings of US$1.377 billion in September 2026,…

BIZ BREAKING

CBSL Urges Sri Lanka to Strengthen Foreign Reserves Before the Next Economic Shock

Sep 11, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
CBSL Urges Sri Lanka to Strengthen Foreign Reserves Before the Next Economic Shock

Sri Lanka must use periods of economic stability to strengthen its foreign exchange reserves and build a stronger financial buffer against future external shocks, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said. Speaking at the inaugural Reserve Management Conference 2026 in…

IMF Team Arrives in Colombo for Crucial Seventh EFF Review

Sep 10, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
IMF Team Arrives in Colombo for Crucial Seventh EFF Review

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team is set to arrive in Colombo today for nearly two weeks of discussions with Sri Lankan authorities on the Seventh Review of the country’s US$3 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme, alongside the 2026…

Sri Lanka foreign reserves rise 4.6% to $6.9 billion in August

Sep 9, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
Sri Lanka foreign reserves rise 4.6% to $6.9 billion in August

COLOMBO, Sept 9 – Sri Lanka’s official foreign exchange reserves rose 4.6% in August to $6.905 billion, from $6.6 billion a month earlier, the central bank said. The increase provides a further boost to Sri Lanka’s external liquidity position as…

BUSINESS

Sri Lanka’s Exports Cross US$12 Billion in First Eight Months of 2026

Sep 23, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka’s Exports Cross US$12 Billion in First Eight Months of 2026

COLOMBO, September 23, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s total exports surpassed the US$12 billion milestone during the first eight months of 2026, reaching an estimated US$12.01…

HIP Hosts National Oil Spill Contingency Plan Workshop Led by MEPA

Sep 20, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
HIP Hosts National Oil Spill Contingency Plan Workshop Led by MEPA

HAMBANTOTA, September 20, 2026 — Hambantota International Port (HIP) recently hosted a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan Workshop conducted by the Marine Environment Protection Authority…

Sri Lanka Targets Middle Eastern Tourists With Wellness and Wildlife Experiences

Sep 19, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
Sri Lanka Targets Middle Eastern Tourists With Wellness and Wildlife Experiences

COLOMBO, September 19, 2026 — Sri Lanka is strengthening its efforts to attract more travellers from the Middle East by promoting wellness, wildlife, cultural and…

Visa Highlights Digital Growth Opportunities for Sri Lankan SMEs at National SME Forum

Sep 18, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
Visa Highlights Digital Growth Opportunities for Sri Lankan SMEs at National SME Forum

COLOMBO, September 18, 2026 — Visa has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the growth and digital transformation of Sri Lanka’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs)…

ECONOMY

Sri Lanka Inflation Rises to 8% as Food Prices Drive August Increase

Sep 11, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
Sri Lanka Inflation Rises to 8% as Food Prices Drive August Increase

Sri Lanka’s headline inflation accelerated to 8.0% in August 2026, up from 7.3% in July, with rising food prices making the biggest contribution to the…

EDOTCO Secures US$10 Million Investment Deal to Expand Sri Lanka’s Digital Infrastructure

Sep 10, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
EDOTCO Secures US$10 Million Investment Deal to Expand Sri Lanka’s Digital Infrastructure

EDOTCO Sri Lanka has signed a US$10 million investment agreement with the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) to expand the country’s digital infrastructure,…

Sri Lanka’s debt down in US$, GDP terms despite up in rupee : Deputy FinMin

Sep 8, 2026 2 months ago 1 min read
Sri Lanka’s debt down in US$, GDP terms despite up in rupee : Deputy FinMin

Sri Lanka’s debt burden measured in both debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) and dollar terms have fallen though it has risen in local currency, Deputy Finance…

In El Nino-hit Sri Lanka, wells run dry and farmer incomes shrink as drought deepens

Sep 8, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
In El Nino-hit Sri Lanka, wells run dry and farmer incomes shrink as drought deepens

GALWELA YAYA, Sri Lanka Sept 3 (Reuters) – For the first time in over three ​decades, Sri Lankan farmer A.M. Pathmasena says, his well is…

MARKETS

Sri Lanka stocks trend up on Monday

Sep 8, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
Sri Lanka stocks trend up on Monday

Sri Lanka’s bourse opened the week in green with the main All Share Price Index moving up 0.17 percent in early trading. The ASPI was…

Sri Lanka stocks trend down midday Tuesday

Sep 8, 2026 2 months ago 1 min read
Sri Lanka stocks trend down midday Tuesday

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange indices were trading down on Tuesday midday, CSE data showed, with the benchmark All Share Price Index moving…

Stocks Slip as Rising Oil, Inflation Risks and Geopolitical Tensions Rattle Markets

Sep 8, 2026 2 months ago 4 min read
Stocks Slip as Rising Oil, Inflation Risks and Geopolitical Tensions Rattle Markets

Global stocks edged lower on Monday as surging oil prices, escalating Middle East tensions and political uncertainty in Europe kept investors cautious ahead of crucial…

NATION

Mahaweli River Water Levels Rise as Kandy Areas Face Flood Risk

Sep 20, 2026 1 month ago 1 min read
Mahaweli River Water Levels Rise as Kandy Areas Face Flood Risk

COLOMBO, September 20, 2026 — Authorities have issued a flood warning for several areas in Kandy District as water levels in the Mahaweli River continue…

Seat Belts Now Mandatory for All Expressway Passengers

Sep 19, 2026 1 month ago 1 min read
Seat Belts Now Mandatory for All Expressway Passengers

COLOMBO, September 19, 2026 — All passengers travelling in vehicles on Sri Lanka’s expressways are now required to wear seat belts, with the regulation coming…

Rumesh Tharanga returns to Sri Lanka after victory at World Athletics Ultimate Championship

Sep 15, 2026 2 months ago 1 min read
Rumesh Tharanga returns to Sri Lanka after victory at World Athletics Ultimate Championship

Sri Lankan javelin star Rumesh Tharanga has returned to the island this morning after winning the men’s javelin throw title at the World Athletics Ultimate…

Sri Lanka Launches Islandwide Dengue Control Programme Amid Rising Risk

Sep 14, 2026 2 months ago 1 min read
Sri Lanka Launches Islandwide Dengue Control Programme Amid Rising Risk

The Sri Lankan Government has launched a special islandwide dengue-control programme from today (September 14) to September 19, as authorities take preventive measures against a…

world

US Reportedly Moves Toward $2.8 Billion Arms Package for Israel

Sep 16, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
US Reportedly Moves Toward $2.8 Billion Arms Package for Israel

WASHINGTON, September 16, 2026 — The US government is reportedly moving toward approving an arms package worth approximately US$2.8 billion for Israel, according to US…

India’s BRICS Chairship Produces More Than 50 New Initiatives

Sep 14, 2026 2 months ago 5 min read
India’s BRICS Chairship Produces More Than 50 New Initiatives

India’s BRICS chairship has resulted in more than 50 initiatives covering a wide range of areas, including counterterrorism, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, health security, trade,…

BRICS Summit 2026: New Delhi Declaration Signals Deeper Trade, Local-Currency Payments and a More Integrated Emerging-Market Economy

Sep 13, 2026 2 months ago 12 min read
BRICS Summit 2026: New Delhi Declaration Signals Deeper Trade, Local-Currency Payments and a More Integrated Emerging-Market Economy

xNEW DELHI, September 13, 2026 — BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration on Saturday, the first day of the 18th BRICS Summit, setting out…

Modi, Putin Move to Strengthen Ties as Russia Pushes for Greater BRICS Role

Sep 12, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
Modi, Putin Move to Strengthen Ties as Russia Pushes for Greater BRICS Role

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to further strengthen their long-standing strategic partnership, as Moscow called for the BRICS…