Binance Hit by Record US$6.3 Billion Crypto Theft as Analysts Point to North Korea

Oct 31, 2026 6 days ago 3 min read
Binance Hit by Record US$6.3 Billion Crypto Theft as Analysts Point to North Korea

SINGAPORE, October 31, 2026 — Binance has suffered a US$6.3 billion cryptocurrency theft, prompting the world’s largest crypto exchange to suspend withdrawals and pledge to…

Apparel Exports Rise 3.47% in September, but Nine-Month Earnings Remain 5.52% Lower

Oct 30, 2026 1 week ago 3 min read
Apparel Exports Rise 3.47% in September, but Nine-Month Earnings Remain 5.52% Lower

COLOMBO, October 30, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s apparel exports increased by 3.47% year-on-year to US$416.99 million in September, supported by stronger shipments to the United…

Sri Lanka Launches AgriConnect with US$665 Million in Investment Backing to Support Farmers and Agribusinesses

Oct 30, 2026 1 week ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka Launches AgriConnect with US$665 Million in Investment Backing to Support Farmers and Agribusinesses

COLOMBO, October 30, 2026 — Sri Lanka has launched the AgriConnect Joint Implementation Plan with the World Bank Group and the International Fund for Agricultural…

Union Bank’s Nine-Month Profit After Tax More Than Doubles to Rs. 701 Million

Oct 30, 2026 1 week ago 2 min read
Union Bank’s Nine-Month Profit After Tax More Than Doubles to Rs. 701 Million

COLOMBO, October 30, 2026 — Union Bank reported a 104% increase in profit after tax to Rs. 701 million for the nine months ended September…

CSE Recovery Enters Third Session as ASPI Jumps 297 Points Above 20,250

Oct 30, 2026 1 week ago 2 min read
CSE Recovery Enters Third Session as ASPI Jumps 297 Points Above 20,250

COLOMBO, October 30, 2026 — The Colombo Stock Exchange extended its recovery for a third consecutive session on October 29, with broad-based buying lifting the…

Port City Colombo FinTech Dialogue Calls for Two-Year Growth Roadmap

COLOMBO, November 6, 2026 — A high-level dialogue at Port City Colombo has highlighted the need for a two-year actionable…

BIZ BREAKING

CBSL Survey Tracks Financial Sector Risks and Confidence in Sri Lanka’s Financial System

Oct 8, 2026 4 weeks ago 2 min read
CBSL Survey Tracks Financial Sector Risks and Confidence in Sri Lanka’s Financial System

COLOMBO, October 8, 2026 — The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has released the key findings of its Systemic Risk Survey (SRS) for the second half of 2026, providing an updated assessment of how financial market participants view risks…

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

Oct 7, 2026 1 month 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 1 month 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…

BUSINESS

JETOUR Expands Sri Lankan Footprint with Second Showroom at Colombo City Centre

Oct 11, 2026 4 weeks ago 2 min read
JETOUR Expands Sri Lankan Footprint with Second Showroom at Colombo City Centre

COLOMBO, October 11, 2026 — Chinese automotive brand JETOUR is expanding its retail presence in Sri Lanka with the opening of its second showroom at…

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 1 month 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…

ECONOMY

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…

Rupee Weakens Against Dollar as Selling Rates Move Towards Rs. 335

Sep 28, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
Rupee Weakens Against Dollar as Selling Rates Move Towards Rs. 335

COLOMBO, September 28, 2026 — The Sri Lankan Rupee weakened further against the US Dollar at several commercial banks today, with dollar selling rates moving…

Fitch Upgrade Signals Improving Confidence in Sri Lanka’s Post-Crisis Economy

Sep 27, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
Fitch Upgrade Signals Improving Confidence in Sri Lanka’s Post-Crisis Economy

COLOMBO, September 27, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s latest sovereign credit-rating upgrade by Fitch Ratings is strengthening the country’s position in international financial markets, marking another…

Expressway Revenue Loss Tops Rs. 4.6 Billion as Audit Flags Major Financial and Control Gaps

Sep 25, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
Expressway Revenue Loss Tops Rs. 4.6 Billion as Audit Flags Major Financial and Control Gaps

COLOMBO, September 25, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s expressway network suffered more than Rs. 4.6 billion in revenue losses over a period of four years and…

MARKETS

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…

CSE Expands SME Capital-Market Access as Anuradhapura and Jaffna Businesses Explore New Funding Options

Sep 24, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
CSE Expands SME Capital-Market Access as Anuradhapura and Jaffna Businesses Explore New Funding Options

COLOMBO, September 24, 2026 — Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Anuradhapura and Jaffna are being introduced to alternative avenues for raising growth capital as…

NATION

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

Oct 6, 2026 1 month 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 1 month 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 1 month 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 1 month 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 1 month 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 1 month 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…