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

Oct 15, 2026 5 days 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…

Oil Prices Surge as Iran’s New Hormuz Tactics Raise Global Supply Fears

Oct 14, 2026 6 days ago 4 min read
Oil Prices Surge as Iran’s New Hormuz Tactics Raise Global Supply Fears

COLOMBO, October 14, 2026 — Global oil prices climbed on Wednesday as attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and reports of new…

Sri Lanka Takes EXPO 2027 Investment and Export Opportunities to Thai Business Community

Oct 14, 2026 6 days ago 4 min read
Sri Lanka Takes EXPO 2027 Investment and Export Opportunities to Thai Business Community

BANGKOK, October 14, 2026 — Sri Lanka is stepping up efforts to strengthen trade and investment ties with Thailand ahead of Sri Lanka EXPO 2027,…

Sri Lanka Courts Investors With Renewable Energy, Port Expansion and Rs. 2 Trillion Capital Spending Plan

Oct 14, 2026 7 days ago 7 min read
Sri Lanka Courts Investors With Renewable Energy, Port Expansion and Rs. 2 Trillion Capital Spending Plan

COLOMBO, October 14, 2026 — President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has outlined an investment-led economic strategy centred on renewable energy, port infrastructure, rural enterprise development and…

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

Oct 14, 2026 7 days 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…

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…

BIZ BREAKING

Cabinet Approves US$112 Million Waterfront Investment in Colombo Port City

Sep 16, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
Cabinet Approves US$112 Million Waterfront Investment in Colombo Port City

COLOMBO, September 16, 2026 — The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a major investment proposal that will see Prime Melwa (Pvt) Ltd develop a landmark mixed-use waterfront project within Colombo Port City. The company has been approved for designation as…

Sri Lanka Stocks Show Signs of Recovery as CSE Trading Remains Volatile

Sep 14, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka Stocks Show Signs of Recovery as CSE Trading Remains Volatile

COLOMBO, September 14, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s stock market showed signs of recovery during Monday’s trading session, with the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) benchmarks moving into positive territory after a softer start. The All Share Price Index (ASPI), the benchmark…

CBSL Urges Sri Lanka to Strengthen Foreign Reserves Before the Next Economic Shock

Sep 11, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
CBSL Urges Sri Lanka to Strengthen Foreign Reserves Before the Next Economic Shock

Sri Lanka must use periods of economic stability to strengthen its foreign exchange reserves and build a stronger financial buffer against future external shocks, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said. Speaking at the inaugural Reserve Management Conference 2026 in…

BUSINESS

Fairway Expands East Coast Footprint with Trincomalee Beach Resort Takeover

Sep 25, 2026 4 weeks ago 4 min read
Fairway Expands East Coast Footprint with Trincomalee Beach Resort Takeover

TRINCOMALEE, September 25, 2026 — Fairway Holdings is expanding its presence in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry with a long-term hotel management agreement for Trincomalee Beach…

Sri Lanka’s Agrifood Sector Has Major Export Potential Through High-Value Agriculture and Processing

Sep 24, 2026 4 weeks ago 5 min read
Sri Lanka’s Agrifood Sector Has Major Export Potential Through High-Value Agriculture and Processing

COLOMBO, September 24, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s agrifood sector has significant potential to become a stronger driver of export growth, investment and higher-productivity employment if…

Sri Lanka’s Exports Cross US$12 Billion in First Eight Months of 2026

Sep 23, 2026 4 weeks ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka’s Exports Cross US$12 Billion in First Eight Months of 2026

COLOMBO, September 23, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s total exports surpassed the US$12 billion milestone during the first eight months of 2026, reaching an estimated US$12.01…

HIP Hosts National Oil Spill Contingency Plan Workshop Led by MEPA

Sep 20, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
HIP Hosts National Oil Spill Contingency Plan Workshop Led by MEPA

HAMBANTOTA, September 20, 2026 — Hambantota International Port (HIP) recently hosted a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan Workshop conducted by the Marine Environment Protection Authority…

ECONOMY

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

Sep 17, 2026 1 month 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 1 month 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 1 month 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 1 month 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

Sri Lanka stocks trend up Friday, Kotagala to absorb subsidiary

Sep 8, 2026 1 month 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 1 month 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

Parliament to Vote Today on 22nd Amendment and Judicature Amendment Bills

Sep 25, 2026 4 weeks 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 4 weeks 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…

SLIM DIGIS 2.6 Brings Sri Lanka’s Digital Marketing Industry Into the Global Spotlight

Sep 23, 2026 4 weeks ago 3 min read
SLIM DIGIS 2.6 Brings Sri Lanka’s Digital Marketing Industry Into the Global Spotlight

COLOMBO, September 23, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s digital marketing industry gathered at Monarch Imperial, Colombo, on September 22 for the grand finale of SLIM DIGIS…

Mahaweli River Water Levels Rise as Kandy Areas Face Flood Risk

Sep 20, 2026 1 month ago 1 min read
Mahaweli River Water Levels Rise as Kandy Areas Face Flood Risk

COLOMBO, September 20, 2026 — Authorities have issued a flood warning for several areas in Kandy District as water levels in the Mahaweli River continue…

world

India Steps Up Push to Become Global Semiconductor Manufacturing Hub

Sep 18, 2026 1 month 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 1 month 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…

Zhang Yiming Becomes Asia’s Richest Person Driven by ByteDance’s AI Surge

Sep 17, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
Zhang Yiming Becomes Asia’s Richest Person Driven by ByteDance’s AI Surge

Zhang Yiming, the 43-year-old founder of TikTok parent company ByteDance, has officially become Asia’s wealthiest individual with a net worth surpassing $105 billion. His personal…

US Reportedly Moves Toward $2.8 Billion Arms Package for Israel

Sep 16, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
US Reportedly Moves Toward $2.8 Billion Arms Package for Israel

WASHINGTON, September 16, 2026 — The US government is reportedly moving toward approving an arms package worth approximately US$2.8 billion for Israel, according to US…