Colombo Stocks Close Higher as Banking Gains Lift Turnover Above Rs. 3.9 Billion

Nov 5, 2026 4 days ago 2 min read
Colombo Stocks Close Higher as Banking Gains Lift Turnover Above Rs. 3.9 Billion

COLOMBO, November 5, 2026 — The Colombo Stock Exchange’s benchmark indices closed higher, supported by gains in Commercial Bank, Dialog Axiata and Hatton National Bank,…

Fitch Upgrades People’s Leasing, MBSL and CBC Finance; Outlooks Stable

Nov 5, 2026 4 days ago 3 min read
Fitch Upgrades People’s Leasing, MBSL and CBC Finance; Outlooks Stable

COLOMBO, November 5, 2026 — Fitch Ratings has upgraded the National Long-Term Ratings of three Sri Lankan bank-owned non-bank financial institutions, reflecting their parent banks’…

ASPI Surges 478 Points as CSE Turnover Tops Rs. 2 Billion in First Hour

Nov 5, 2026 4 days ago 1 min read
ASPI Surges 478 Points as CSE Turnover Tops Rs. 2 Billion in First Hour

COLOMBO, November 5, 2026 — Stocks rallied at the Colombo Stock Exchange during the first hour of trading today, with the All Share Price Index…

‘Next Barack Obama’ Emerges as Clear Frontrunner for 2028 US Presidential Race

Nov 5, 2026 5 days ago 2 min read
‘Next Barack Obama’ Emerges as Clear Frontrunner for 2028 US Presidential Race

WASHINGTON, November 5, 2026 — Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff has emerged as the leading prospect for the 2028 US presidency on prediction platform Polymarket following…

Laurini Officine Meccaniche Unveils 150-Ton Demolition Giant with 50-Meter Reach at World Demolition Summit in Madrid

Nov 4, 2026 5 days ago 2 min read
Laurini Officine Meccaniche Unveils 150-Ton Demolition Giant with 50-Meter Reach at World Demolition Summit in Madrid

MADRID, November 4, 2026 —One year after receiving the World Demolition Award for Innovation in Nashville, Tennessee Laurini Officine Meccaniche has again taken the spotlight…

BIZ BREAKING

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

Oct 21, 2026 3 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 despite lower shipment volumes and a decline from the US$1.163 billion recorded a year earlier.…

Rs. 3 Billion HLAB Fund Launched to Back Business Growth; First Capital Commits Rs. 300 Million

Oct 20, 2026 3 weeks ago 3 min read
Rs. 3 Billion HLAB Fund Launched to Back Business Growth; First Capital Commits Rs. 300 Million

COLOMBO, October 20, 2026 — Hatch, Lankan Angel Network and BOV Capital have launched HLAB, a Rs. 3 billion investment fund aimed at supporting early and growth-stage companies incorporated in Sri Lanka, with First Capital Holdings PLC committing Rs. 300…

Sri Lanka’s 2027 Budget Expenditure Set to Rise 12.6% to Rs. 4.99 Trillion

Oct 19, 2026 3 weeks ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka’s 2027 Budget Expenditure Set to Rise 12.6% to Rs. 4.99 Trillion

COLOMBO, October 19, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s total government expenditure is projected to increase by 12.6% to Rs. 4.993 trillion in 2027, from Rs. 4.434 trillion in 2026, with a sharp expansion in capital investment and an unchanged overall borrowing…

IMF Signals Continued Support for Sri Lanka Beyond March 2027 Programme Expiry

Oct 17, 2026 3 weeks ago 5 min read
IMF Signals Continued Support for Sri Lanka Beyond March 2027 Programme Expiry

COLOMBO, October 17, 2026 — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has signalled its readiness to continue supporting Sri Lanka beyond the expiry of its current lending programme in March 2027, while emphasising that completing the remaining reviews and consolidating economic…

BUSINESS

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

Oct 22, 2026 3 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,…

Access Engineering Expects Rs. 310 Million Company-Level Loss from Logistics Project Exit

Oct 21, 2026 3 weeks ago 2 min read
Access Engineering Expects Rs. 310 Million Company-Level Loss from Logistics Project Exit

COLOMBO, October 21, 2026 — Access Engineering PLC expects to recognise a loss of approximately Rs. 310 million in its standalone company financial statements following…

Central Bank Governor Highlights Policy Credibility and Price Stability at RBI Conference

Oct 20, 2026 3 weeks ago 2 min read
Central Bank Governor Highlights Policy Credibility and Price Stability at RBI Conference

COLOMBO, October 20, 2026 — Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe has stressed the importance of institutional credibility, strong monetary policy…

SANKEN GEN Established as Independent International Group Following Five Decades of Construction Delivery Across Three Continents

Oct 19, 2026 3 weeks ago 3 min read
SANKEN GEN Established as Independent International Group Following Five Decades of Construction Delivery Across Three Continents

COLOMBO, October 19, 2026 — SANKEN GEN has been established as an independent international group, bringing together the Group’s overseas construction operations, real estate interests…

ECONOMY

MF Projects Sri Lanka’s Economic Growth to Moderate to 3.7% in 2027

Oct 13, 2026 4 weeks ago 3 min read
MF Projects Sri Lanka’s Economic Growth to Moderate to 3.7% in 2027

COLOMBO, October 13, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s economic growth is projected to ease to 3.7% in 2027 from an estimated 4% in 2026, according to…

President to Open Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2026 as Focus Shifts to Growth and Investment

Oct 12, 2026 4 weeks ago 4 min read
President to Open Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2026 as Focus Shifts to Growth and Investment

COLOMBO, October 12, 2026 — President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to inaugurate the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026 today at Shangri-La Colombo,…

“You can increase your fuel prices, but we won’t”: Govt tells private suppliers

Oct 11, 2026 4 weeks ago 2 min read
“You can increase your fuel prices, but we won’t”: Govt tells private suppliers

COLOMBO, October 11, 2026 — The Sri Lankan government has ruled out increasing fuel prices to accommodate the demands of private fuel suppliers, with Energy…

Sri Lanka Customs Revenue Surpasses September Target by 32% as 2026 Collections Near Annual Goal

Oct 9, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka Customs Revenue Surpasses September Target by 32% as 2026 Collections Near Annual Goal

COLOMBO, October 9, 2026 — Sri Lanka Customs collected Rs. 258.3 billion in September, exceeding its monthly revenue target by 32.1%, as stronger collections from…

MARKETS

CSE Extends Losses as Dialog, Commercial Bank and HNB Weigh on Indices

Oct 14, 2026 4 weeks ago 2 min read
CSE Extends Losses as Dialog, Commercial Bank and HNB Weigh on Indices

COLOMBO, October 14, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s stock market closed lower, with losses in heavyweight counters including Dialog Axiata, Commercial Bank and Hatton National Bank…

CSE Closes in Red as Hemas, LOLC Holdings and Cargills Weigh on Market Sentiment

Oct 13, 2026 4 weeks ago 3 min read
CSE Closes in Red as Hemas, LOLC Holdings and Cargills Weigh on Market Sentiment

COLOMBO, October 13, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s stock market closed lower as selling pressure on heavyweight counters, including Hemas Holdings, LOLC Holdings and Cargills, dragged…

CSE Ends Week on Positive Note as Banking Stocks Lift Daily Indices Despite Weekly Losses

Oct 11, 2026 4 weeks ago 3 min read
CSE Ends Week on Positive Note as Banking Stocks Lift Daily Indices Despite Weekly Losses

COLOMBO, October 11, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s stock market ended the week’s final trading session in positive territory, supported by price gains in Dialog Axiata,…

CSE Indices Close Lower as Rs. 2.7 Billion Turnover Concentrates in Key Counters

Oct 9, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
CSE Indices Close Lower as Rs. 2.7 Billion Turnover Concentrates in Key Counters

COLOMBO, October 9, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s stock market closed in negative territory as selling pressure on heavyweight counters, including Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka,…

NATION

Sri Lanka Records US$2.24 Billion in Tourism Earnings in First Nine Months

Oct 19, 2026 3 weeks ago 2 min read
Sri Lanka Records US$2.24 Billion in Tourism Earnings in First Nine Months

COLOMBO, October 19, 2026 — Sri Lanka generated US$2.245 billion in tourism earnings during the first nine months of 2026, although revenue from the sector…

Sri Lanka and Japan Advance Industrial Corridor Plan During Industry Minister’s Tokyo Visit

Oct 17, 2026 3 weeks ago 4 min read
Sri Lanka and Japan Advance Industrial Corridor Plan During Industry Minister’s Tokyo Visit

TOKYO / COLOMBO, 17 October 2026 — Japan has reaffirmed its commitment to a roadmap for a Sri Lanka–Japan Export-Oriented Industrial Corridor following talks with…

Rs. 3.09 Billion Surgical Ward Complex Planned for Tangalle Hospital

Oct 17, 2026 3 weeks ago 2 min read
Rs. 3.09 Billion Surgical Ward Complex Planned for Tangalle Hospital

TANGALLE, October 17, 2026 — A nine-storey surgical ward complex estimated to cost Rs. 3.09 billion is planned for Tangalle Base Hospital as part of…

US Announces US$17 Million Investment to Digitise Colombo Port Operations

Oct 16, 2026 3 weeks ago 3 min read
US Announces US$17 Million Investment to Digitise Colombo Port Operations

COLOMBO, October 16, 2026 — The United States has announced a US$17 million investment to digitise operations at the Port of Colombo, aiming to accelerate…

world

Trump to Take Up to 60 Days to Review Russia Sanctions, Rubio Says

Oct 18, 2026 3 weeks ago 4 min read
Trump to Take Up to 60 Days to Review Russia Sanctions, Rubio Says

WASHINGTON, October 18, 2026 — US President Donald Trump will take up to 60 days to assess the economic implications of Russia-related sanctions and tariffs…

Oil Prices Hit $110 a Barrel as Middle East Tensions Raise Supply Concerns

Oct 17, 2026 3 weeks ago 5 min read
Oil Prices Hit $110 a Barrel as Middle East Tensions Raise Supply Concerns

LONDON, October 17, 2026 — Global oil prices have climbed to their highest levels in months, with Brent crude touching $110 a barrel for the…

Tesla Unveils Flying Roadster, Claims Sub-One-Second 0–60 MPH Acceleration

Oct 16, 2026 3 weeks ago 4 min read
Tesla Unveils Flying Roadster, Claims Sub-One-Second 0–60 MPH Acceleration

MCLENNAN, October 16, 2026 — Tesla has unveiled its long-awaited next-generation Roadster with a dramatic demonstration featuring midair flips, rocket-inspired propulsion technology and a claimed…

Petrol-Only Vehicles Fall Below 50% of Global Auto Market for First Time

Oct 15, 2026 4 weeks ago 5 min read
Petrol-Only Vehicles Fall Below 50% of Global Auto Market for First Time

TOKYO, October 15, 2026 — Petrol-only vehicles accounted for less than half of global new-vehicle sales for the first time in the first half of…