Fuel Import Costs Up 50%, Limiting Price Relief Despite Rs. 57 Billion Subsidy Allocation: Minister

Nov 3, 2026 1 week ago 2 min read
Fuel Import Costs Up 50%, Limiting Price Relief Despite Rs. 57 Billion Subsidy Allocation: Minister

COLOMBO, November 3, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s fuel import costs have increased by approximately 50% compared with last year, limiting the government’s ability to provide…

Oil Prices Rise After Reported US Strike on Iran’s Qeshm Island

Nov 3, 2026 1 week ago 2 min read
Oil Prices Rise After Reported US Strike on Iran’s Qeshm Island

COLOMBO, November 3, 2026 — Oil prices edged higher in early Asian trading on Tuesday after a report of US strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island…

Sri Lanka’s Exports Hit Record US$1.38 Billion, but September Current Account Posts US$128 Million Deficit

Nov 2, 2026 1 week ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka’s Exports Hit Record US$1.38 Billion, but September Current Account Posts US$128 Million Deficit

COLOMBO, November 2, 2026 — Sri Lanka recorded its highest-ever monthly merchandise export earnings of US$1.377 billion in September 2026, but the external current account…

Tucker Carlson Warns of Possible Nuclear Strike on Iran Within Days — Markets and Energy Supply at Risk.

Nov 2, 2026 1 week ago 5 min read
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Tucker Carlson claimed early Monday that the Trump administration is under intense pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch a nuclear strike on…

ASPI Falls 10.97% in Ten Months as October Wipes Rs. 441 Billion Off Market Value

Nov 2, 2026 1 week ago 1 min read
ASPI Falls 10.97% in Ten Months as October Wipes Rs. 441 Billion Off Market Value

COLOMBO, November 2, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s benchmark All Share Price Index (ASPI) declined by 10.97% during the first ten months of 2026, while the…

CBSL Bars EY Audit Partners from Banking Audits Following Rs. 13.6 Billion NDB Fraud

COLOMBO, November 10, 2026 — The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has barred the Ernst & Young partners responsible for…

BIZ BREAKING

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…

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 1 month 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 1 month 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…

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

Oct 6, 2026 1 month 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

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 2 months 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…

IPS Outlines Sectoral Reforms to Put Sri Lanka on a Durable Growth Path

Sep 23, 2026 2 months ago 7 min read
IPS Outlines Sectoral Reforms to Put Sri Lanka on a Durable Growth Path

COLOMBO, September 23, 2026 — Sri Lanka needs to move beyond crisis management and accelerate structural reforms across trade, taxation, human capital, social protection, agriculture,…

Sri Lanka’s Apparel Sector Targets the Next US$3 Billion in Export Growth

Sep 20, 2026 2 months ago 5 min read
Sri Lanka’s Apparel Sector Targets the Next US$3 Billion in Export Growth

COLOMBO, September 20, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s apparel industry is setting its sights on a major new phase of growth, with industry leaders seeking to…

MARKETS

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

Sep 24, 2026 2 months 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…

Fitch upgrade lifts CSE as ASPI rebounds above 21,000

Sep 23, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
Fitch upgrade lifts CSE as ASPI rebounds above 21,000

COLOMBO, September 23, 2026 — The Colombo Stock Exchange rebounded on 22 September 2026, with both benchmark indices closing higher after sentiment improved sharply during…

Global Oil Stays Above US$100 as Sri Lanka Holds Fuel Prices Amid Rising Business Costs

Sep 20, 2026 2 months ago 6 min read
Global Oil Stays Above US$100 as Sri Lanka Holds Fuel Prices Amid Rising Business Costs

COLOMBO, September 20, 2026 — Sri Lankan businesses are facing renewed cost pressures as international crude oil prices remain above US$100 a barrel, raising the…

CSE Ends Higher as Dialog Axiata, Melstacorp and Hayleys Gain

Sep 19, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
CSE Ends Higher as Dialog Axiata, Melstacorp and Hayleys Gain

COLOMBO, September 19, 2026 — The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) closed higher, supported by price gains in counters including Dialog Axiata, Melstacorp and Hayleys, while…

NATION

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,…

Sri Lanka’s Unemployment Rate Rises to 4% in Q2 2026

Oct 3, 2026 1 month ago 1 min read
Sri Lanka’s Unemployment Rate Rises to 4% in Q2 2026

COLOMBO, October 3, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s unemployment rate increased to 4.0% in the second quarter of 2026, up from 3.8% during the corresponding quarter…

Rs. 22 Billion Uma Oya Development Project to Benefit 5,000 Families

Oct 2, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
Rs. 22 Billion Uma Oya Development Project to Benefit 5,000 Families

COLOMBO, October 2, 2026 — A Rs. 22.017 billion development project aimed at strengthening irrigation and water security in Monaragala is expected to benefit approximately…

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…