Fitch Upgrades Commercial Bank to ‘AA(lka)’ Following National Rating Scale Recalibration

Nov 9, 2026 6 days ago 3 min read
Fitch Upgrades Commercial Bank to ‘AA(lka)’ Following National Rating Scale Recalibration

COLOMBO, November 9, 2026 — Fitch Ratings has upgraded Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC’s National Long-Term Rating to ‘AA(lka)’ from ‘AA-(lka)’, effective October 30, 2026,…

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

Nov 9, 2026 6 days ago 2 min read
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 application for the European Union’s…

Higher Wages, Lower Living Standards: Sri Lanka’s Real Take-Home Pay, 2017–2026

Nov 8, 2026 7 days ago 4 min read
Higher Wages, Lower Living Standards: Sri Lanka’s Real Take-Home Pay, 2017–2026

COLOMBO, November 8, 2026 — Formal-sector gross wages, on the EPF-based index, rose 131.8% between January 2017 and March 2026, ahead of the 114.9% rise…

IMF Chief Warns AI Slowdown Could Complicate Central Banks’ Inflation Fight

Nov 8, 2026 7 days ago 2 min read
IMF Chief Warns AI Slowdown Could Complicate Central Banks’ Inflation Fight

WASHINGTON, November 8, 2026 — Central banks must account for any slowdown in growth driven by artificial intelligence investment when assessing how to tackle persistent…

HIPG and Al-Futtaim Logistics Explore Stronger Gulf Vehicle Links and Port Investment Opportunities

Nov 8, 2026 7 days ago 3 min read
HIPG and Al-Futtaim Logistics Explore Stronger Gulf Vehicle Links and Port Investment Opportunities

COLOMBO, November 8, 2026 — Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) and Al-Futtaim Logistics have explored expanding their business relationship, including vehicle shipping links to Gulf…

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

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

Oct 20, 2026 4 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 4 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 4 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…

Sri Lanka Seeks EU Investment Under €300 Billion Global Gateway Initiative

Oct 16, 2026 4 weeks ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka Seeks EU Investment Under €300 Billion Global Gateway Initiative

COLOMBO, October 16, 2026 — Sri Lanka has sought European Union (EU) investment to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), develop startup incubators and expand export-oriented industries under the EU’s €300 billion Global Gateway initiative, as the country looks to…

BUSINESS

Hayleys Solar Launches 24/7 Operations Centre to Monitor Renewable Energy Assets

Oct 23, 2026 3 weeks ago 3 min read
Hayleys Solar Launches 24/7 Operations Centre to Monitor Renewable Energy Assets

COLOMBO, October 23, 2026 — Hayleys Solar has introduced a dedicated 24-hour Renewable Energy Operations Centre (ROC), bringing renewable energy assets onto a centralised digital…

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 4 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 4 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…

ECONOMY

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

Oct 12, 2026 1 month 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 1 month 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…

Sri Lanka’s Official Reserve Assets Fall 1.1% to US$6.85 Billion in September

Oct 8, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
Sri Lanka’s Official Reserve Assets Fall 1.1% to US$6.85 Billion in September

COLOMBO, October 8, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets declined by 1.1% in September 2026, falling to US$6.851 billion from US$6.929 billion recorded in…

MARKETS

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

Oct 13, 2026 1 month 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 1 month 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,…

CSE Ends Lower as ASPI and S&P SL20 Decline on Broad-Based Selling

Oct 8, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
CSE Ends Lower as ASPI and S&P SL20 Decline on Broad-Based Selling

COLOMBO, October 8, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s stock market ended the session in negative territory today, with both the All Share Price Index (ASPI) and…

NATION

China Merchants’ Exit from US$392 Million Colombo Logistics Project Raises Investment Concerns

Oct 20, 2026 4 weeks ago 4 min read
China Merchants’ Exit from US$392 Million Colombo Logistics Project Raises Investment Concerns

COLOMBO, October 20, 2026 — China Merchants Port Holdings’ withdrawal from a US$392 million logistics development at the Port of Colombo has raised concerns over…

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

Oct 19, 2026 4 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 4 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 4 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…

world

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

Oct 17, 2026 4 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 4 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 1 month 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…

Apple Unveils HomeView Smart Home Hub With Upgraded Siri AI, Intensifying Tech Competition

Oct 14, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
Apple Unveils HomeView Smart Home Hub With Upgraded Siri AI, Intensifying Tech Competition

CUPERTINO, October 14, 2026 — Apple has unveiled a new range of smart home devices led by HomeView, a $299 touchscreen hub powered by an…