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…

Centrum Air Connects Tashkent and Mattala with Twice-Weekly Direct Flights

Oct 30, 2026 1 week ago 3 min read
Centrum Air Connects Tashkent and Mattala with Twice-Weekly Direct Flights

COLOMBO, October 30, 2026 — Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air has introduced direct scheduled flights between Tashkent and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, expanding Sri Lanka’s connections with…

Ceylon Chamber Urges Review of Draft Laws to Protect Investor Confidence and GSP+ Access

Oct 29, 2026 1 week ago 2 min read
Ceylon Chamber Urges Review of Draft Laws to Protect Investor Confidence and GSP+ Access

COLOMBO, October 29, 2026 — The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has called for a careful review of proposed national security and organised crime legislation, highlighting…

Japan Grants Rs. 4.56 Billion for Kelani River Pumping Project to Protect Businesses and Communities

Oct 29, 2026 1 week ago 2 min read
Japan Grants Rs. 4.56 Billion for Kelani River Pumping Project to Protect Businesses and Communities

COLOMBO, October 29, 2026 — Japan has agreed to provide JPY 2.179 billion, approximately Rs. 4.56 billion, in grant assistance for a Kelani River pumping…

Sri Lanka’s Official Reserves Top US$7 Billion in October, Rising 3.2%

COLOMBO, November 7, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets rose to US$7.086 billion at the end of October 2026,…

BIZ BREAKING

Sri Lanka Targets Saudi Capital for New Investment and Development Partnerships

Sep 29, 2026 1 month ago 5 min read
Sri Lanka Targets Saudi Capital for New Investment and Development Partnerships

COLOMBO, September 29, 2026 — Sri Lanka is stepping up efforts to attract Saudi investment into new development projects, seeking to transform its longstanding relationship with the Kingdom into a broader commercial partnership spanning investment, trade, infrastructure and private-sector development.…

Ending IMF Engagement After 2027 Could Put Sri Lanka’s Economic Recovery at Risk

Sep 27, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
Ending IMF Engagement After 2027 Could Put Sri Lanka’s Economic Recovery at Risk

COLOMBO, September 27, 2026 — Sri Lanka could face renewed economic instability if it abandons its structural engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the current programme ends in 2027, the Dinana Dakuna collective has warned. In a statement,…

Sri Lanka to Exit IMF Programme in 2027 — What It Means for Businesses and Investors

Sep 26, 2026 1 month ago 6 min read
Sri Lanka to Exit IMF Programme in 2027 — What It Means for Businesses and Investors

COLOMBO, September 26, 2026 — Sri Lanka plans to complete its current International Monetary Fund (IMF) Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme in March 2027 without seeking another IMF programme linked to debt restructuring, Minister Bimal Rathnayake has said. The planned…

Sri Lanka Approves Rs.17.2 Billion Electricity Relief Package Amid Cost Pressures

Sep 24, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka Approves Rs.17.2 Billion Electricity Relief Package Amid Cost Pressures

COLOMBO, September 24, 2026 — Sri Lanka’s Parliament has approved a Rs.17.213 billion supplementary allocation to provide financial relief on electricity bills, in a move that could ease pressure on households and businesses while adding another significant policy intervention to…

BUSINESS

STC Expands Own-Brand Portfolio with Three New Products

Oct 4, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
STC Expands Own-Brand Portfolio with Three New Products

STC Management team with chief guest: From left: Wasantha Dissanayake, Private Secretary to the Minister; Ravindra Fernando, Chairman/Managing Director, Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation…

Pan Asia Bank’s Rs. 5 Billion Debenture Issue Oversubscribed on Strong Investor Demand

Oct 3, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
Pan Asia Bank’s Rs. 5 Billion Debenture Issue Oversubscribed on Strong Investor Demand

B D A Perera, Chairman and Naleen Edirisinghe Director/CEO of Pan Asia Bank COLOMBO, October 3, 2026 — Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC has secured…

ADB Approves $100 Million Loan to Strengthen Sri Lanka’s Skills and Youth Employment

Oct 2, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
ADB Approves $100 Million Loan to Strengthen Sri Lanka’s Skills and Youth Employment

COLOMBO, October 2, 2026 — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $100 million results-based loan to support Sri Lanka’s efforts to modernise its…

Port City Colombo Steps Up Gulf Investment Drive Across UAE, Oman and Qatar

Oct 1, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
Port City Colombo Steps Up Gulf Investment Drive Across UAE, Oman and Qatar

ABU DHABI, October 1, 2026 — Port City Colombo is intensifying efforts to attract Gulf capital into Sri Lanka, with a seven-day investment roadshow across…

ECONOMY

IMF Commends Sri Lanka’s Fiscal Progress as Seventh Review Continues

Sep 18, 2026 2 months ago 3 min read
IMF Commends Sri Lanka’s Fiscal Progress as Seventh Review Continues

COLOMBO, September 18, 2026 — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has commended Sri Lanka’s recent progress in maintaining fiscal discipline, increasing government revenue and attracting…

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

Sep 17, 2026 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months 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…

MARKETS

CSE Indices End Lower as Key Stocks Decline

Sep 18, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
CSE Indices End Lower as Key Stocks Decline

COLOMBO, September 18, 2026 — The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) ended the session in negative territory, with both major indices coming under pressure as several…

Aitken Spence Hotels’ Rs. 5 Billion Debenture Issue Fully Taken Up on Opening Day

Sep 16, 2026 2 months ago 2 min read
Aitken Spence Hotels’ Rs. 5 Billion Debenture Issue Fully Taken Up on Opening Day

COLOMBO, September 16, 2026 — Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC has successfully secured strong investor demand for its maiden listed, rated, unsecured, senior redeemable debenture…

Asia Asset Finance Raises Rs. 1.5 Billion Through Rights Issue

Sep 14, 2026 2 months ago 1 min read
Asia Asset Finance Raises Rs. 1.5 Billion Through Rights Issue

Sri Lanka’s Asia Asset Finance PLC has raised approximately Rs. 1.5 billion through a rights issue, strengthening its capital base as the company moves forward…

NATION

Sri Lanka and Australia Agree to Deepen Cooperation in Trade, Defence and Maritime Affairs

Sep 30, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
Sri Lanka and Australia Agree to Deepen Cooperation in Trade, Defence and Maritime Affairs

COLOMBO, September 30, 2026 — Sri Lanka and Australia have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation across trade, defence, education, agriculture and maritime affairs following high-level…

Rumesh Pathirage Strikes Asian Games Gold with 88.55m Javelin Throw

Sep 29, 2026 1 month ago 3 min read
Rumesh Pathirage Strikes Asian Games Gold with 88.55m Javelin Throw

SRI LANKA, September 29, 2026 — Sri Lankan javelin star Rumesh Pathirage has secured the Asian Games gold medal with a commanding 88.55-metre throw, capping…

Government Announces Rs. 41 Billion Fuel Subsidy for Three Months

Sep 28, 2026 1 month ago 2 min read
Government Announces Rs. 41 Billion Fuel Subsidy for Three Months

GAMPAHA, September 27, 2026 — President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that the Government will introduce a Rs. 41 billion fuel subsidy covering the next…

Minister Sunil Handunnetti joins Ceylon Gemlogue ’26 as Sri Lanka charts new direction for gem industry

Sep 27, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
Minister Sunil Handunnetti joins Ceylon Gemlogue ’26 as Sri Lanka charts new direction for gem industry

COLOMBO, September 27, 2026 — Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti attended the inaugural session of Ceylon Gemlogue ’26 in Colombo today, as…

world

Iran Pushes for Diplomacy After Trump Rejects Hormuz Peace Proposal

Sep 27, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
Iran Pushes for Diplomacy After Trump Rejects Hormuz Peace Proposal

NEW YORK, September 27, 2026 — Iran is continuing to call for a negotiated settlement to its conflict with the United States and Israel after…

Netanyahu Defends Israel’s Military Actions as Dozens of UN Delegates Walk Out

Sep 25, 2026 1 month ago 4 min read
Netanyahu Defends Israel’s Military Actions as Dozens of UN Delegates Walk Out

NEW YORK, September 25, 2026 — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel’s military actions in Gaza and against Iran during a speech to the…

Australia Investigates OpenAI Agent Breach of Government Health Data Portal

Sep 24, 2026 2 months ago 5 min read
Australia Investigates OpenAI Agent Breach of Government Health Data Portal

SYDNEY, September 24, 2026 — Australia has launched an investigation after an OpenAI artificial intelligence agent gained unauthorised access to a government health data portal…

Trump Threatens Iran With Destruction as Diplomats Push for Deal at UN

Sep 23, 2026 2 months ago 4 min read
Trump Threatens Iran With Destruction as Diplomats Push for Deal at UN

NEW YORK, September 23, 2026 — US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran could face devastating military action if Tehran fails to reach a…