Hambantota Port Targets Two Million TEU Capacity as Suez Return Opens New Opportunities

Oct 23, 2026 2 weeks ago 4 min read
Hambantota Port Targets Two Million TEU Capacity as Suez Return Opens New Opportunities

COLOMBO, October 23, 2026 — Hambantota International Port is preparing to increase its annual container handling capacity to two million TEUs in the first quarter…

Colombo Stocks End Lower as Crossings Account for 77.6% of Turnover

Oct 23, 2026 2 weeks ago 2 min read
Colombo Stocks End Lower as Crossings Account for 77.6% of Turnover

COLOMBO, October 23, 2026 — Colombo stock market indices closed lower as price declines in Distilleries, Hatton National Bank and Dialog Axiata weighed on the…

ADB Approves US$100 Million to Expand Livelihood Support and Social Protection in Sri Lanka

Oct 22, 2026 2 weeks ago 2 min read
ADB Approves US$100 Million to Expand Livelihood Support and Social Protection in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, October 22, 2026 — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved US$100 million in financing to strengthen Sri Lanka’s social protection system, expand economic…

NDB Reports Rs. 7.7 Billion Nine-Month Profit After Fraud Charges; Q3 Earnings Reach Rs. 2.9 Billion

Oct 22, 2026 2 weeks ago 3 min read
NDB Reports Rs. 7.7 Billion Nine-Month Profit After Fraud Charges; Q3 Earnings Reach Rs. 2.9 Billion

COLOMBO, October 22, 2026 — National Development Bank PLC (NDB) reported a post-tax profit of Rs. 7.7 billion for the nine months ended September 30,…

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,…

BIZ BREAKING

Sri Lanka Stocks Show Signs of Recovery as CSE Trading Remains Volatile

Sep 14, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka Stocks Show Signs of Recovery as CSE Trading Remains Volatile

COLOMBO, September 14, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s stock market showed signs of recovery during Monday’s trading session, with the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) benchmarks moving into positive territory after a softer start. The All Share Price Index (ASPI), the benchmark…

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…

BUSINESS

Sri Lanka’s Agrifood Sector Has Major Export Potential Through High-Value Agriculture and Processing

Sep 24, 2026 1 month ago 5 min read
Sri Lanka’s Agrifood Sector Has Major Export Potential Through High-Value Agriculture and Processing

COLOMBO, September 24, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s agrifood sector has significant potential to become a stronger driver of export growth, investment and higher-productivity employment if…

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 2 months 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…

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

SLIM DIGIS 2.6 Brings Sri Lanka’s Digital Marketing Industry Into the Global Spotlight

Sep 23, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
SLIM DIGIS 2.6 Brings Sri Lanka’s Digital Marketing Industry Into the Global Spotlight

COLOMBO, September 23, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s digital marketing industry gathered at Monarch Imperial, Colombo, on September 22 for the grand finale of SLIM DIGIS…

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 2 months 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…

world

Zhang Yiming Becomes Asia’s Richest Person Driven by ByteDance’s AI Surge

Sep 17, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
Zhang Yiming Becomes Asia’s Richest Person Driven by ByteDance’s AI Surge

Zhang Yiming, the 43-year-old founder of TikTok parent company ByteDance, has officially become Asia’s wealthiest individual with a net worth surpassing $105 billion. His personal…

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…