Luxury World Cruise Suspended in Cambodia as Soaring Fuel Costs Strand Passengers

Oct 28, 2026 6 days ago 2 min read
Luxury World Cruise Suspended in Cambodia as Soaring Fuel Costs Strand Passengers

PHNOM PENH, October 28, 2026 — Passengers aboard the luxury residential cruise ship Villa Vie Odyssey have been left stranded in Cambodia after its US-based…

Asian Stocks Rally as Anthropic IPO Filing Revives AI Optimism Ahead of Major Earnings

Oct 27, 2026 7 days ago 2 min read
Asian Stocks Rally as Anthropic IPO Filing Revives AI Optimism Ahead of Major Earnings

COLOMBO, October 27, 2026 — Asian equity markets rallied on Tuesday as Anthropic’s US initial public offering filing renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence investments, ahead…

LAUGFS Gas Explores Investment and Potential Stake Sale in Hambantota LPG Terminal

Oct 27, 2026 7 days ago 1 min read
LAUGFS Gas Explores Investment and Potential Stake Sale in Hambantota LPG Terminal

COLOMBO, October 27, 2026 — LAUGFS Gas PLC is exploring strategic options for its wholly owned subsidiary, LAUGFS Terminals Limited, including commercial partnerships, external investment…

Sri Lanka’s Exports Reach US$13.6 Billion in Nine Months as September Sets Monthly Record

Oct 27, 2026 7 days ago 2 min read
Sri Lanka’s Exports Reach US$13.6 Billion in Nine Months as September Sets Monthly Record

COLOMBO, October 27, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s total export earnings reached US$13.612 billion during the first nine months of 2026, supported by a record monthly…

Bolsonaro’s Party Recognises Lula Victory as Trump Questions Brazil Election Without Evidence

Oct 27, 2026 7 days ago 3 min read
Bolsonaro’s Party Recognises Lula Victory as Trump Questions Brazil Election Without Evidence

BRASÍLIA, October 27, 2026 — The Liberal Party of defeated Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro has recognised Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s runoff victory, even…

BIZ BREAKING

BOI Accelerates Northern Province Investment Drive with Two New Export Processing Zones

Oct 7, 2026 4 weeks ago 4 min read
BOI Accelerates Northern Province Investment Drive with Two New Export Processing Zones

JAFFNA, October 7, 2026 — The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) is accelerating plans to transform the Northern Province into a new investment and export hub, with the proposed Export Processing Zones (EPZs) at Paranthan and Kankesanthurai (KKS)…

Sri Lanka, ADB Map Out Development Priorities for 2026–2029

Oct 6, 2026 4 weeks ago 2 min read
Sri Lanka, ADB Map Out Development Priorities for 2026–2029

COLOMBO, October 6, 2026 — Sri Lanka and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have begun discussions on a multi-year development programme for 2026–2029, with the government seeking to prioritise projects that can accelerate economic development while supporting fiscal targets and…

Sri Lanka Locks In 5% Inflation Target for Next Three Years

Oct 3, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka Locks In 5% Inflation Target for Next Three Years

COLOMBO, October 3, 2026 — Sri Lanka has formally locked in a 5% inflation target for the next three years, reinforcing price stability as the central anchor for monetary policy and providing businesses and investors with a clearer medium-term economic…

Govt Opens Rs. 95 Billion Financing Push for Businesses in Record Credit Drive

Oct 2, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
Govt Opens Rs. 95 Billion Financing Push for Businesses in Record Credit Drive

COLOMBO, October 2, 2026 — Sri Lankan businesses are set to gain access to a record Rs. 95 billion in concessionary financing in 2026, with Rs. 25 billion specifically allocated to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as the government moves…

BUSINESS

Sri Lankan Exporters Secure US$50,000 in Orders at Maldives Trade Exhibition, Negotiate Further US$150,000

Oct 9, 2026 4 weeks ago 3 min read
Sri Lankan Exporters Secure US$50,000 in Orders at Maldives Trade Exhibition, Negotiate Further US$150,000

COLOMBO, October 9, 2026 — Sri Lankan exporters have secured approximately US$50,000 in confirmed orders and are negotiating a further US$150,000 in potential business following…

Prime Expands Sri Lankan Real Estate’s Global Reach, Driving FDI and Foreign Currency Inflows

Oct 8, 2026 4 weeks ago 3 min read
Prime Expands Sri Lankan Real Estate’s Global Reach, Driving FDI and Foreign Currency Inflows

MELBOURNE, October 8, 2026 — Prime Group is strengthening Sri Lanka’s position as an international real estate investment destination, following recognition for its contribution to…

CSE and Commercial Bank Join Forces to Expand Capital Market Access for Sri Lankan Businesses

Oct 7, 2026 4 weeks ago 3 min read
CSE and Commercial Bank Join Forces to Expand Capital Market Access for Sri Lankan Businesses

COLOMBO, October 7, 2026 — The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to…

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

Oct 6, 2026 4 weeks 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…

ECONOMY

Sri Lanka’s Tax Revenue Surpasses Rs. 2 Trillion in First Nine Months of 2026

Oct 3, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
Sri Lanka’s Tax Revenue Surpasses Rs. 2 Trillion in First Nine Months of 2026

COLOMBO, October 3, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s Inland Revenue Department (IRD) collected more than Rs. 2.04 trillion in tax revenue during the first nine months…

Sri Lanka Plans Simpler Tax System, Customs Levies to Be Phased Out From 2027

Oct 2, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka Plans Simpler Tax System, Customs Levies to Be Phased Out From 2027

COLOMBO, October 2, 2026 — The government plans to introduce a simplified tax framework from 2027, including the gradual removal of additional levies imposed alongside…

Fuel Prices Rise as New Rates Take Effect Across Sri Lanka

Oct 1, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
Fuel Prices Rise as New Rates Take Effect Across Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, October 1, 2026 — Revised fuel prices have come into effect across Sri Lanka from today, with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) increasing the…

CBSL Holds Policy Rate at 8.75% as Inflation and External Risks Persist

Sep 30, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
CBSL Holds Policy Rate at 8.75% as Inflation and External Risks Persist

COLOMBO, September 30, 2026 — The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has kept its Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) unchanged at 8.75%, opting to maintain…

MARKETS

CSE Snaps Six-Session Losing Streak as Buying Interest Improves

Oct 2, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
CSE Snaps Six-Session Losing Streak as Buying Interest Improves

COLOMBO, October 2, 2026 — The Colombo Stock Exchange snapped a six-session losing streak on Thursday, with both benchmark indices closing higher as buying interest…

CSE Indices Close Lower as Turnover Tops Rs. 1.6 Billion

Oct 1, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
CSE Indices Close Lower as Turnover Tops Rs. 1.6 Billion

COLOMBO, October 1, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s stock market closed lower, with both benchmark indices ending in negative territory as price declines in key counters…

CSE Slips Below 21,000 as Turnover Hits Year-to-Date Low

Sep 29, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
CSE Slips Below 21,000 as Turnover Hits Year-to-Date Low

COLOMBO, September 28, 2026 — The Colombo Stock Exchange started the week under pressure, with the benchmark ASPI falling below the 21,000 level as broad-based…

CSE Ends Lower as Dialog Axiata and Richard Pieris Weigh on Indices

Sep 25, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
CSE Ends Lower as Dialog Axiata and Richard Pieris Weigh on Indices

COLOMBO, September 25, 2026 — Sri Lankan equities ended the session in negative territory as selling pressure on key counters including Dialog Axiata, Richard Pieris…

NATION

Sri Lanka-Thailand Visa-Free Travel Agreement Gets Cabinet Approval

Oct 6, 2026 4 weeks ago 2 min read
Sri Lanka-Thailand Visa-Free Travel Agreement Gets Cabinet Approval

COLOMBO, October 6, 2026 — The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to sign a visa exemption agreement between Sri Lanka and Thailand, allowing…

Energy Ministry Orders Companies to Maintain Minimum Fuel Stocks

Oct 6, 2026 4 weeks ago 2 min read
Energy Ministry Orders Companies to Maintain Minimum Fuel Stocks

COLOMBO, October 6, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s Energy Ministry has instructed relevant companies to maintain minimum fuel stock levels to ensure uninterrupted availability of petroleum…

Multilac Upgrades Colombo Municipal Council Day Care Centre for Children’s Day

Oct 5, 2026 4 weeks ago 2 min read
Multilac Upgrades Colombo Municipal Council Day Care Centre for Children’s Day

COLOMBO, October 5, 2026 — Multilac has completed a series of facility improvements at the Colombo Municipal Council Day Care Centre as part of a…

Govt. Targets Digital Connectivity for All Secondary Schools by Year-End: PM

Oct 4, 2026 4 weeks ago 3 min read
Govt. Targets Digital Connectivity for All Secondary Schools by Year-End: PM

COLOMBO, October 4, 2026 — The Government is working to provide digital connectivity to secondary schools across Sri Lanka by the end of this year,…

world

China’s Deflationary Pressures Deepen as Domestic Demand Remains Weak

Oct 6, 2026 4 weeks ago 3 min read
China’s Deflationary Pressures Deepen as Domestic Demand Remains Weak

BEIJING, October 6, 2026 — China’s economic recovery is facing mounting pressure as weak domestic demand, persistent industrial overcapacity and a prolonged property downturn continue…

Trump Says Iran Has ‘Virtually Given Up’ Plans for Nuclear Weapons

Oct 4, 2026 4 weeks ago 3 min read
Trump Says Iran Has ‘Virtually Given Up’ Plans for Nuclear Weapons

WASHINGTON, October 4, 2026 — US President Donald Trump has said Iran has “virtually given up” plans to develop nuclear weapons, offering a potentially significant…

UAE Says Flydubai Co-Pilot Attacked Captain in Suspected Terror Plot

Oct 3, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
UAE Says Flydubai Co-Pilot Attacked Captain in Suspected Terror Plot

DUBAI, October 3, 2026 — The United Arab Emirates has said a Flydubai co-pilot allegedly attempted to carry out a terrorist attack aboard a flight…

India Approves $19 Billion Programme to Expand Renewable Energy Grid

Oct 2, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
India Approves $19 Billion Programme to Expand Renewable Energy Grid

NEW DELHI, October 2, 2026 — India’s Cabinet has approved a Rs. 1.86 trillion (US$19.42 billion) investment programme to strengthen the country’s power transmission network…