World Bank Forecasts 23% Rise in Commodity Prices as Energy and Food Costs Climb

Oct 29, 2026 1 week ago 4 min read
World Bank Forecasts 23% Rise in Commodity Prices as Energy and Food Costs Climb

COLOMBO, October 29, 2026 — Global commodity prices are projected to increase by 23% in 2026, with rising energy costs, disrupted trade and threats to…

Colombo Stocks Rise as Banking and Telecom Gains Lift Turnover Above Rs. 2.2 Billion

Oct 29, 2026 1 week ago 2 min read
Colombo Stocks Rise as Banking and Telecom Gains Lift Turnover Above Rs. 2.2 Billion

COLOMBO, October 29, 2026 — Colombo stock market indices closed higher, supported by price gains in Commercial Bank, Dialog Axiata and Hatton National Bank, while…

Central Bank Names 27 Prohibited Scheme Entries, Warns Public Over Companies and Apps

Oct 29, 2026 1 week ago 2 min read
Central Bank Names 27 Prohibited Scheme Entries, Warns Public Over Companies and Apps

COLOMBO, October 29, 2026 — The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has listed 27 entries covering companies, mobile applications and related entities determined to…

Jio Surges 27% on Market Debut, Reaches US$137 Billion Valuation

Oct 29, 2026 1 week ago 3 min read
Jio Surges 27% on Market Debut, Reaches US$137 Billion Valuation

MUMBAI, October 29, 2026 — Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio Platforms climbed approximately 27% on its Mumbai stock market debut on Wednesday, reaching a valuation of…

Sri Lanka Begins APG Review of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Framework

Oct 28, 2026 2 weeks ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka Begins APG Review of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Framework

COLOMBO, October 28, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s third mutual evaluation by the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) has commenced, with assessors examining the country’s…

BIZ BREAKING

IMF Urges Sri Lanka to Accelerate Reforms Amid Rising External Risks

Sep 23, 2026 2 months ago 5 min read
IMF Urges Sri Lanka to Accelerate Reforms Amid Rising External Risks

COLOMBO, September 23, 2026 — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged Sri Lanka to maintain prudent economic policies and accelerate structural reforms as the recovering economy faces renewed external risks from the Middle East conflict, global trade policy uncertainty…

Sri Lanka Targets Bigger Role in Asia’s Trade and Investment Networks

Sep 20, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
Sri Lanka Targets Bigger Role in Asia’s Trade and Investment Networks

COLOMBO, September 20, 2026 — Sri Lanka is stepping up efforts to strengthen its position within Asia’s expanding trade and investment networks as the country seeks to attract greater foreign investment and expand its role in regional supply chains. With…

Sri Lanka Connects First Grid-Scale Battery Storage Facility to National Grid

Sep 19, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka Connects First Grid-Scale Battery Storage Facility to National Grid

COLOMBO, September 19, 2026 — Sri Lanka has connected its first grid-scale standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to the national electricity grid, marking a significant development in the country’s renewable energy and power infrastructure sector. The 10 MW/40 MWh…

WindForce Boosts Renewable Portfolio to 268 MW with Battery Storage and Floating Solar

Sep 18, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
WindForce Boosts Renewable Portfolio to 268 MW with Battery Storage and Floating Solar

COLOMBO, September 18, 2026 — Renewable energy producer WindForce PLC has expanded its total generation capacity to approximately 268 MW following the commissioning of two new clean-energy projects, including what the company describes as Sri Lanka’s first standalone grid-scale battery…

BUSINESS

Cabinet Awards Rs.2.89 Billion Baseline Road Extension Contract to Maga Engineering

Sep 30, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
Cabinet Awards Rs.2.89 Billion Baseline Road Extension Contract to Maga Engineering

COLOMBO, September 30, 2026 — The Government has awarded a Rs.2.89 billion contract to Maga Engineering Ltd. for the third phase of the Baseline Road…

Sri Lanka Targets Malaysian Investment as Country Positions for Next Growth Phase

Sep 29, 2026 1 month ago 5 min read
Sri Lanka Targets Malaysian Investment as Country Positions for Next Growth Phase

KUALA LUMPUR, September 29, 2026 — Sri Lanka is seeking to deepen economic and investment ties with Malaysia by inviting Malaysian companies to participate in…

Electricity Tariff Cuts Remain Without Firm Timeline as Sri Lanka Expands Renewables

Sep 28, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
Electricity Tariff Cuts Remain Without Firm Timeline as Sri Lanka Expands Renewables

COLOMBO, September 28, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s Government has yet to set a firm timeline for electricity tariff reductions, with Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka saying…

Sri Lanka sets sights on 4 million tourists and US$8 billion tourism revenue by 2030

Sep 27, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
Sri Lanka sets sights on 4 million tourists and US$8 billion tourism revenue by 2030

COLOMBO, September 27, 2026 — Sri Lanka is targeting four million tourist arrivals and US$8 billion in annual tourism revenue by 2030, as the Government…

ECONOMY

Colombo Port Capacity to Increase by 1.5 Million TEUs as Sri Lanka Targets Continued Growth

Sep 13, 2026 2 months ago 5 min read
Colombo Port Capacity to Increase by 1.5 Million TEUs as Sri Lanka Targets Continued Growth

COLOMBO — Colombo Port is set to expand its handling capacity by a further 1.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), as Sri Lanka moves to…

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,…

MARKETS

Sri Lanka stocks trend up Friday, Kotagala to absorb subsidiary

Sep 8, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
Sri Lanka stocks trend up Friday, Kotagala to absorb subsidiary

Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange indices were trading up on Friday morning, CSE data showed, with the benchmark All Share Price Index moving up 0.37…

Sri Lanka rupee at 328.20/40 to US dollar spot, bond yields flat

Sep 8, 2026 2 months ago 1 min read
Sri Lanka rupee at 328.20/40 to US dollar spot, bond yields flat

Sri Lanka’s rupee was quoted at 328.20/40 to the US dollar in the spot market on Monday, while bond yields were steady, dealers said. A…

NATION

Adverse Weather Affects Nearly 3,500 People Across 15 Districts

Sep 27, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
Adverse Weather Affects Nearly 3,500 People Across 15 Districts

COLOMBO, September 27, 2026 — Adverse weather conditions have affected 3,495 people from 943 families across 104 Divisional Secretariat (DS) divisions in 15 districts, according…

Met Department Issues Amber Advisory Over High Waves Along Sri Lankan Coast

Sep 26, 2026 1 month ago 1 min read
Met Department Issues Amber Advisory Over High Waves Along Sri Lankan Coast

COLOMBO, September 26, 2026 — The Department of Meteorology has issued an “Amber” advisory for high waves covering sea areas from Chilaw to Pottuvil, including…

Parliament to Vote Today on 22nd Amendment and Judicature Amendment Bills

Sep 25, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
Parliament to Vote Today on 22nd Amendment and Judicature Amendment Bills

COLOMBO, September 25, 2026 — Parliament is scheduled to vote today on the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill, as…

Second Reading Debate on 22nd Amendment Underway in Parliament

Sep 24, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
Second Reading Debate on 22nd Amendment Underway in Parliament

COLOMBO, September 24, 2026 — The Second Reading debate on the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill commenced in Parliament today, with Minister of…

world

Canada, India Push to Finalise Trade Deal by Year-End

Sep 20, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
Canada, India Push to Finalise Trade Deal by Year-End

MUMBAI, September 20, 2026 — Canada remains optimistic about concluding negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India by the end of this…

Singapore Airlines Named World’s Best Airline for 2026

Sep 19, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
Singapore Airlines Named World’s Best Airline for 2026

LONDON, September 18, 2026 — Singapore Airlines (SIA) has been named the World’s Best Airline for 2026 at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, reclaiming the…

India Steps Up Push to Become Global Semiconductor Manufacturing Hub

Sep 18, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
India Steps Up Push to Become Global Semiconductor Manufacturing Hub

NEW DELHI, September 18, 2026 — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stepped up efforts to position India as a major global destination for semiconductor…

Oil Prices Set for Weekly Decline as Saudi Supply Concerns Ease

Sep 18, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Decline as Saudi Supply Concerns Ease

LONDON, September 18, 2026 — Global oil prices are heading for a weekly decline after three consecutive weeks of gains, as concerns over disruptions to…