Centrum Air Connects Tashkent and Mattala with Twice-Weekly Direct Flights

Oct 30, 2026 1 week ago 3 min read
Centrum Air Connects Tashkent and Mattala with Twice-Weekly Direct Flights

COLOMBO, October 30, 2026 — Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air has introduced direct scheduled flights between Tashkent and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, expanding Sri Lanka’s connections with…

Ceylon Chamber Urges Review of Draft Laws to Protect Investor Confidence and GSP+ Access

Oct 29, 2026 2 weeks ago 2 min read
Ceylon Chamber Urges Review of Draft Laws to Protect Investor Confidence and GSP+ Access

COLOMBO, October 29, 2026 — The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has called for a careful review of proposed national security and organised crime legislation, highlighting…

Japan Grants Rs. 4.56 Billion for Kelani River Pumping Project to Protect Businesses and Communities

Oct 29, 2026 2 weeks ago 2 min read
Japan Grants Rs. 4.56 Billion for Kelani River Pumping Project to Protect Businesses and Communities

COLOMBO, October 29, 2026 — Japan has agreed to provide JPY 2.179 billion, approximately Rs. 4.56 billion, in grant assistance for a Kelani River pumping…

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

Oct 29, 2026 2 weeks 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 2 weeks 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…

JAAF Backs Fresh GSP+ Application to Protect Sri Lanka’s EU Market Access

COLOMBO, November 9, 2026 — The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) has welcomed the Government’s commitment to submit a fresh…

BIZ BREAKING

Sri Lanka Approves Rs.17.2 Billion Electricity Relief Package Amid Cost Pressures

Sep 24, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka Approves Rs.17.2 Billion Electricity Relief Package Amid Cost Pressures

COLOMBO, September 24, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s Parliament has approved a Rs.17.213 billion supplementary allocation to provide financial relief on electricity bills, in a move that could ease pressure on households and businesses while adding another significant policy intervention to…

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…

BUSINESS

Port City Colombo Steps Up Gulf Investment Drive Across UAE, Oman and Qatar

Oct 1, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
Port City Colombo Steps Up Gulf Investment Drive Across UAE, Oman and Qatar

ABU DHABI, October 1, 2026 — Port City Colombo is intensifying efforts to attract Gulf capital into Sri Lanka, with a seven-day investment roadshow across…

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…

ECONOMY

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Reserves Rise to US$6.9 Billion on Record Dollar Purchases

Sep 14, 2026 2 months ago 4 min read
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Reserves Rise to US$6.9 Billion on Record Dollar Purchases

Sri Lanka’s gross official foreign reserves increased to a provisional US$6.9 billion by the end of August 2026, reaching their highest level in five months…

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…

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…