Cabinet Approves Rs. 3.33 Billion to Restore Cyclone-Damaged Roads

Nov 4, 2026 1 week ago 2 min read
Cabinet Approves Rs. 3.33 Billion to Restore Cyclone-Damaged Roads

COLOMBO, November 4, 2026 — The Cabinet of Ministers has approved three contracts totalling Rs. 3,334.28 million, excluding VAT and other applicable taxes, to rehabilitate…

LAUGFS Seeks Temporary Hambantota Terminal Access as Three LPG Shipments Due in November

Nov 4, 2026 1 week ago 3 min read
LAUGFS Seeks Temporary Hambantota Terminal Access as Three LPG Shipments Due in November

COLOMBO, November 4, 2026 — LAUGFS Gas PLC has requested three months of temporary permission to supply the domestic LPG market through its Hambantota terminal,…

JKH’s Attributable Profit Surges 213% to Rs. 5.17 Billion in Q2; PBT Reaches Rs. 7.95 Billion

Nov 4, 2026 1 week ago 4 min read
JKH’s Attributable Profit Surges 213% to Rs. 5.17 Billion in Q2; PBT Reaches Rs. 7.95 Billion

COLOMBO, November 4, 2026 — John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) recorded a 213% increase in profit attributable to equity holders of the parent to Rs.…

Crypto Cannot Be Used for Domestic Payments, CBSL Governor Says

Nov 4, 2026 1 week ago 2 min read
Crypto Cannot Be Used for Domestic Payments, CBSL Governor Says

COLOMBO, November 4, 2026 — Digital assets cannot be used for payments between residents under Sri Lanka’s current legal framework, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal…

CAL Signs Deal to Acquire 51% of Hong Kong Fund Manager Asia Frontier Capital

Nov 3, 2026 2 weeks ago 3 min read
CAL Signs Deal to Acquire 51% of Hong Kong Fund Manager Asia Frontier Capital

COLOMBO, November 3, 2026 — Capital Alliance Holdings PLC (CAL) has signed an agreement to acquire a 51% stake in Hong Kong-based fund manager Asia…

Budget 2027 Targets Rs. 6.18 Trillion in Revenue and Grants, Deficit at 4.5% of GDP

COLOMBO, November 13, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s 2027 Budget estimates total government revenue and grants at Rs. 6,180 billion, with…

BIZ BREAKING

Sri Lanka Targets Saudi Capital for New Investment and Development Partnerships

Sep 29, 2026 2 months ago 5 min read
Sri Lanka Targets Saudi Capital for New Investment and Development Partnerships

COLOMBO, September 29, 2026 — Sri Lanka is stepping up efforts to attract Saudi investment into new development projects, seeking to transform its longstanding relationship with the Kingdom into a broader commercial partnership spanning investment, trade, infrastructure and private-sector development.…

Ending IMF Engagement After 2027 Could Put Sri Lanka’s Economic Recovery at Risk

Sep 27, 2026 2 months ago 4 min read
Ending IMF Engagement After 2027 Could Put Sri Lanka’s Economic Recovery at Risk

COLOMBO, September 27, 2026 — Sri Lanka could face renewed economic instability if it abandons its structural engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the current programme ends in 2027, the Dinana Dakuna collective has warned. In a statement,…

Sri Lanka to Exit IMF Programme in 2027 — What It Means for Businesses and Investors

Sep 26, 2026 2 months ago 6 min read
Sri Lanka to Exit IMF Programme in 2027 — What It Means for Businesses and Investors

COLOMBO, September 26, 2026 — Sri Lanka plans to complete its current International Monetary Fund (IMF) Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme in March 2027 without seeking another IMF programme linked to debt restructuring, Minister Bimal Rathnayake has said. The planned…

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…

BUSINESS

City of Dreams Sri Lanka to Host Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Strengthening Colombo’s Regional Creative Position

Oct 6, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
City of Dreams Sri Lanka to Host Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Strengthening Colombo’s Regional Creative Position

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Senior Vice President-Colombo Hotels and Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka General Manager Kamal Munasinghe (right) with AOD Founder…

AkzoNobel to Sell Southeast Asia Paints Business to Nippon Paint for $1.35 Billion

Oct 5, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
AkzoNobel to Sell Southeast Asia Paints Business to Nippon Paint for $1.35 Billion

COLOMBO, October 5, 2026 — AkzoNobel has agreed to sell its Southeast Asian decorative paints business to Nippon Paint for $1.35 billion, marking a major…

STC Expands Own-Brand Portfolio with Three New Products

Oct 4, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
STC Expands Own-Brand Portfolio with Three New Products

STC Management team with chief guest: From left: Wasantha Dissanayake, Private Secretary to the Minister; Ravindra Fernando, Chairman/Managing Director, Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation…

Pan Asia Bank’s Rs. 5 Billion Debenture Issue Oversubscribed on Strong Investor Demand

Oct 3, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
Pan Asia Bank’s Rs. 5 Billion Debenture Issue Oversubscribed on Strong Investor Demand

B D A Perera, Chairman and Naleen Edirisinghe Director/CEO of Pan Asia Bank COLOMBO, October 3, 2026 — Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC has secured…

ECONOMY

CBSL Exchange Rates: US Dollar Selling Rate Rises to Rs. 336.92

Sep 17, 2026 2 months ago 1 min read
CBSL Exchange Rates: US Dollar Selling Rate Rises to Rs. 336.92

The Sri Lankan Rupee weakened slightly against the US Dollar on Thursday (17), with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) reporting an increase in…

Sri Lanka Economy Grows 4.2% in Second Quarter of 2026

Sep 16, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka Economy Grows 4.2% in Second Quarter of 2026

COLOMBO, September 16, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s economy expanded by 4.2% year-on-year during the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest National Accounts Estimates…

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…

MARKETS

Aitken Spence Hotels’ Rs. 5 Billion Debenture Issue Fully Taken Up on Opening Day

Sep 16, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
Aitken Spence Hotels’ Rs. 5 Billion Debenture Issue Fully Taken Up on Opening Day

COLOMBO, September 16, 2026 — Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC has successfully secured strong investor demand for its maiden listed, rated, unsecured, senior redeemable debenture…

Asia Asset Finance Raises Rs. 1.5 Billion Through Rights Issue

Sep 14, 2026 2 months ago 1 min read
Asia Asset Finance Raises Rs. 1.5 Billion Through Rights Issue

Sri Lanka’s Asia Asset Finance PLC has raised approximately Rs. 1.5 billion through a rights issue, strengthening its capital base as the company moves forward…

NATION

Paperless Customs Declaration Process Takes Effect Across Sri Lanka

Oct 1, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
Paperless Customs Declaration Process Takes Effect Across Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, October 1, 2026 — Sri Lanka Customs has officially introduced its new Paperless Customs Declaration Process, marking a major step towards digitalising and modernising…

Sri Lanka and Australia Agree to Deepen Cooperation in Trade, Defence and Maritime Affairs

Sep 30, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka and Australia Agree to Deepen Cooperation in Trade, Defence and Maritime Affairs

COLOMBO, September 30, 2026 — Sri Lanka and Australia have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation across trade, defence, education, agriculture and maritime affairs following high-level…

Rumesh Pathirage Strikes Asian Games Gold with 88.55m Javelin Throw

Sep 29, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
Rumesh Pathirage Strikes Asian Games Gold with 88.55m Javelin Throw

SRI LANKA, September 29, 2026 — Sri Lankan javelin star Rumesh Pathirage has secured the Asian Games gold medal with a commanding 88.55-metre throw, capping…

Government Announces Rs. 41 Billion Fuel Subsidy for Three Months

Sep 28, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
Government Announces Rs. 41 Billion Fuel Subsidy for Three Months

GAMPAHA, September 27, 2026 — President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that the Government will introduce a Rs. 41 billion fuel subsidy covering the next…

world

Netanyahu Defends Israel’s Military Actions as Dozens of UN Delegates Walk Out

Sep 25, 2026 2 months ago 4 min read
Netanyahu Defends Israel’s Military Actions as Dozens of UN Delegates Walk Out

NEW YORK, September 25, 2026 — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel’s military actions in Gaza and against Iran during a speech to the…

Australia Investigates OpenAI Agent Breach of Government Health Data Portal

Sep 24, 2026 2 months ago 5 min read
Australia Investigates OpenAI Agent Breach of Government Health Data Portal

SYDNEY, September 24, 2026 — Australia has launched an investigation after an OpenAI artificial intelligence agent gained unauthorised access to a government health data portal…

Trump Threatens Iran With Destruction as Diplomats Push for Deal at UN

Sep 23, 2026 2 months ago 4 min read
Trump Threatens Iran With Destruction as Diplomats Push for Deal at UN

NEW YORK, September 23, 2026 — US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran could face devastating military action if Tehran fails to reach a…

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…