News & market updates

DIMO (Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC), MTU's sole authorised dealer in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, held Technical Forum 2025 and announced R&D and service investments plus rollout of MTU Go digital fleet management and ValueCare; DIMO has serviced over 400 MTU customers/engines in the region.

The Automobile Association of Ceylon marked its 120-year legacy, noting continued nationwide roadside assistance, road-safety campaigns and partnerships — including professional driver training in collaboration with DIMO.

DIMO.N0000 relocated its DIMO Academy for Technical Skills (DATS) to a new state-of-the-art facility in Peliyagoda, increasing training capacity and introducing German-accredited programs and industry partnerships (e.g., HomeServe Germany, MAN) that secure international job placements.

DIMO.N0000 delivered Sri Lanka’s first Echosens FibroScan® Expert 630 to Hemas Hospital Wattala, marking the introduction of advanced non-invasive liver assessment capability. As sole Echosens agent, DIMO will provide installation and ongoing after-sales service to support the new liver centre.

DIMO.N0000's Agritech unit has launched modern protected houses, polytunnels, drip irrigation, fertilizers, seeds and advisory services to reduce climate-change crop damage. The offerings are zone-specific with technical support and recommend 2,000–4,000+ sq ft houses for commercial returns in 2–3 years.

DIMO delivered a KALMAR DCU80 Empty Container Handler (8-ton capacity) to IWS Logistics, enhancing yard throughput and space management while reducing fuel use and CO₂ emissions.

DIMO.N0000 (Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC) won the "General Distributor Award" at the Mercedes‑Benz Service Excellence Regional Ceremony, with a Sri Lanka staff member named Top Service Adviser and high CSI/NPS scores reflecting strong after-sales performance.

The ASPI gained 72 points (+0.5%) to 15,616 as the Colombo market bounced back, led by the capital goods sector. Turnover was about Rs.1.5 billion with net foreign inflows of Rs.35.2m; notable movers included Hemas, John Keells, Browns, Alumex and DFCC.

Azend Technologies completed a management buyout on 8 April, ending its four-year joint venture with Innovation ThreeSixty and Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC. The management team, led by CEO Rajive Silva, will pursue a growth strategy focused on technology-driven scalability.

Hayleys PLC bought a 10.8% stake in Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC for about Rs.1 billion, acquiring ~0.9m shares at Rs.1,050 on Apr 7 and ~96,000 shares (largest block 92,707) at Rs.1,000 on Apr 8. DIMO shares rose 4% to Rs.1,050 while Hayleys fell 6% to Rs.129.75.

Hayleys PLC acquired ordinary shares in Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC to take a 10.83% stake, the company said in a stock exchange filing. Prior to the transactions Hayleys held no DIMO shares; the Employees Provident Fund was the seller and Hayleys' co-chairman sits on DIMO's board.

Colombo bourse rebounded strongly as ASPI rose 3% (surging 467 points) and S&P SL20 gained 4.65%, adding Rs.170bn in market value led by banks (Sampath, Commercial, HNB) and majors including John Keells, Hayleys, Access Engineering and DIMO; turnover was Rs.2.9bn and foreigners were net buyers (Rs.48.3m).

DIMO (Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC) delivered 22 Tata SIGNA Prime Movers to International Logistics & Movers (ILM) as part of a large-scale fleet acquisition, with ILM planning to expand to 50 units.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon (COMB.N0000) hosted its 3rd SME Trade Fair in Colombo, with nearly 200 SMEs exhibiting over three days and an Industry Helpdesk providing advisory support. The event included government bodies, IFC/ADB, Hayleys and DIMO, with sessions on export readiness and digital/cybersecurity.

DIMO (Diesel & Motor Engineering) delivered 22 Tata SIGNA prime movers to International Logistics & Movers (ILM) as the first large-scale fleet acquisition since vehicle import reopening; ILM plans to expand to 50 units. DIMO, the sole Tata distributor in Sri Lanka, says it sold over 100 prime movers last financial year.

DIMO (Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC), as Tata Motors’ sole authorised Sri Lanka partner, launched Tata’s all‑new passenger vehicle range (ICE and EV) in Sri Lanka with pricing from LKR 8.7 Mn. DIMO will provide warranties (3 yrs; EV battery/motor 8 yrs) and island‑wide after‑sales support.

AHK Sri Lanka is sending a delegation to Transport Logistic 2025 in Munich (June 2-5); Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO.N0000) is listed as a participant in the delegation, which aims to showcase logistics, mobility and supply-chain solutions.

DIMO supported the Jeep Club of Sri Lanka’s four-day 'Odyssey Through the Wild' expedition — an 18‑vehicle, 1,000+ km journey — providing workshop support and acting as Jeep's distributor. DIMO's GMD/CEO said the event reflects the firm's commitment to sustainable mobility and responsible exploration.

DIMO.N0000's DIMO Healthcare installed the Abbott WorkMate Claris 2D electrophysiology system at Durdans Hospital to enhance cardiac ablation and arrhythmia treatment. DIMO Healthcare will provide installation, staff training and ongoing after-sales support for the system.

ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards 2024 named Hayleys PLC overall winner and Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC overall runner-up. Listed firms recognised in sector categories included Talawakelle Tea Estates, Horana Plantations, Ceylon Cold Stores, Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, Citizens Development Business Finance, Resus Energy, Hayleys Fabric, Haycarb, Diesel & Motor Engineering, JAT Holdings and Aitken Spence Hotels.

DIMO and People’s Leasing & Finance PLC launched a two-year finance scheme for Mahindra, Swaraj, Lovol and CLASS agricultural machinery offering special interest rates, minimal down payments and lease terms up to seven years.

DIMO.N0000's agribusiness arm offers high-quality seedlings, fertilizer blends, soil testing, micro-irrigation systems, fertigation products and plantation management, and has tied up with SDF.N0000 to provide loan facilities to boost coconut yields. Current practices aim to raise yields from ~40–60 to the potential 100–120 coconuts per tree.

Asoka Hettigoda was re-elected President of the Sri Lanka Germany Business Council for 2024–25. The AGM highlighted Germany’s support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery, noting $888m of Sri Lankan exports to Germany in 2022 and 121,000 German visitors by November 2024.

The Sri Lanka–Germany Business Council held its 25th AGM and re‑elected Asoka Hettigoda as President. The German ambassador reaffirmed Germany’s support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and skills migration, noting $888m of Sri Lankan exports to Germany in 2022 and 121,000 German visitors by Nov 2024.

Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO) won the Overall Silver award for Overall Excellence in Corporate Reporting at the TAGS Awards 2024 and also received one Gold and four Silver awards, including Gold for Diversified Holdings. Its 2023/24 Annual Report featured a braille synopsis and a dedicated microsite to enhance digital engagement.

Sri Lanka's vehicle assembly and component sector says it now has over 17 assembly plants and 5,000 direct skilled workers and aims to increase component export revenues from $800m to $2bn within five years, supporting job creation and foreign-exchange conservation.