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

Oct 15, 2026 1 week 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 1 week 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 1 week 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 1 week 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 1 week 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…

ADB Approves US$100 Million to Expand Livelihood Support and Social Protection in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, October 22, 2026 — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved US$100 million in financing to strengthen Sri Lanka’s…

BIZ BREAKING

India’s Economic Rise Creates New Opportunities for Sri Lanka as Rajnath Singh Highlights Expanding Bilateral Ties

Sep 8, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
India’s Economic Rise Creates New Opportunities for Sri Lanka as Rajnath Singh Highlights Expanding Bilateral Ties

India’s rapidly expanding economy and growing global trade footprint could create further opportunities for Sri Lankan businesses, exporters and investors, as Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the country’s economic transformation during his visit to Colombo. Speaking to the Indian…

Family doctor system must not threaten free healthcare

Sep 8, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
Family doctor system must not threaten free healthcare

The proposed introduction of a family doctor system in Sri Lanka should be implemented in a manner that strengthens, rather than undermines, the country’s free healthcare system, Medical and Civil Rights Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance Chairman and Specialist Dr Chamal…

SDIG Ajith Rohana retires after 38 years of service

Sep 8, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
SDIG Ajith Rohana retires after 38 years of service

Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Attorney-at-Law Dr. Ajith Rohana retired today after completing an illustrious 38-year career in Sri Lanka Police. A ceremonial police guard of honour was held at the Welagedara Stadium in Kurunegala to mark his…

India and Sri Lanka to sign three new defence MoUs during Rajnath Singh’s visit

Sep 1, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
India and Sri Lanka to sign three new defence MoUs during Rajnath Singh’s visit

Rajnath Singh to meet Sri Lankan leadership Indian-funded reconstruction projects to be reviewed Singh is also expected to review the progress of Indian-funded projects in Sri Lanka, including reconstruction programmes supported by US$450 million in Indian assistance following damage caused…

BUSINESS

DIMO and Union Bank Join Forces to Expand Vehicle Financing Options

Sep 16, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
DIMO and Union Bank Join Forces to Expand Vehicle Financing Options

COLOMBO, September 16, 2026 — DIMO has partnered with Union Bank PLC to provide exclusive financing solutions for customers purchasing selected TATA Commercial Vehicles, TATA…

MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka Becomes BBDO Sri Lanka

Sep 14, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka Becomes BBDO Sri Lanka

MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka has transitioned to BBDO Sri Lanka following Omnicom’s global integration, marking the next chapter for an agency built on strong creative…

HNB Finance strengthens Board with four Independent Non-Executive Directors

Sep 11, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
HNB Finance strengthens Board with four Independent Non-Executive Directors

From left: Renuke Wijayawardhane, Shanti Gnanapragasam, Nabiha Mohamed and Dr. Thisuri Wanniarachchi HNB Finance Plc has strengthened its Board with the appointment of four Independent…

ECONOMY

Sri Lanka’s debt down in US$, GDP terms despite up in rupee : Deputy FinMin

Sep 8, 2026 1 month ago 1 min read
Sri Lanka’s debt down in US$, GDP terms despite up in rupee : Deputy FinMin

Sri Lanka’s debt burden measured in both debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) and dollar terms have fallen though it has risen in local currency, Deputy Finance…

In El Nino-hit Sri Lanka, wells run dry and farmer incomes shrink as drought deepens

Sep 8, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
In El Nino-hit Sri Lanka, wells run dry and farmer incomes shrink as drought deepens

GALWELA YAYA, Sri Lanka Sept 3 (Reuters) – For the first time in over three ​decades, Sri Lankan farmer A.M. Pathmasena says, his well is…

Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2026 to Examine How Sri Lanka Can Build a More Resilient Economy for the Future

Sep 8, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2026 to Examine How Sri Lanka Can Build a More Resilient Economy for the Future

As Sri Lanka moves beyond economic stabilisation, attention is increasingly turning to how the country can maintain its growth momentum while preparing for the challenges…

Foreign Reserves Rise to USD 6,905 Million

Sep 8, 2026 1 month ago 1 min read
Foreign Reserves Rise to USD 6,905 Million

The latest data from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka shows that the country’s official reserve assets increased by 4.6% to USD 6,905 million by…

MARKETS

Stocks Slip as Rising Oil, Inflation Risks and Geopolitical Tensions Rattle Markets

Sep 8, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
Stocks Slip as Rising Oil, Inflation Risks and Geopolitical Tensions Rattle Markets

Global stocks edged lower on Monday as surging oil prices, escalating Middle East tensions and political uncertainty in Europe kept investors cautious ahead of crucial…

NATION

Sri Lanka Launches Islandwide Dengue Control Programme Amid Rising Risk

Sep 14, 2026 1 month ago 1 min read
Sri Lanka Launches Islandwide Dengue Control Programme Amid Rising Risk

The Sri Lankan Government has launched a special islandwide dengue-control programme from today (September 14) to September 19, as authorities take preventive measures against a…

world

Sydney Airport flights disrupted due to air traffic controller shortage

Sep 11, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
Sydney Airport flights disrupted due to air traffic controller shortage

A shortage of air traffic controllers caused flight cancellations and major delays at Sydney Airport ‌on Friday morning, the federal agency responsible for managing Australia’s…

Trump Pitches $5,000 ‘Dividend’ as GOP Seeks Midterm Support

Sep 10, 2026 1 month ago 6 min read
Trump Pitches $5,000 ‘Dividend’ as GOP Seeks Midterm Support

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (Sep 9) that every American adult could receive a US$5,000 “Trump dividend” if Republicans maintain control of Congress…

German Company Launches Rocket as Europe Enters Satellite Race

Sep 8, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
German Company Launches Rocket as Europe Enters Satellite Race

Germany’s Isar Aerospace has launched a rocket into orbit from Norway as Europe aims to boost its ability to independently send satellites into space. The…

More Than 60 Armed Conflicts Push World Into Dangerous Territory

Sep 8, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
More Than 60 Armed Conflicts Push World Into Dangerous Territory

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has warned that the world is witnessing its highest number of state-linked armed conflicts since the…