A market brief each morning, plus company filings and news from across Sri Lanka's stock market. Filter by company, sector and theme, and use sentiment badges to quickly identify Positive or Negative news.
With policy held at 8.75% amid 8.0% inflation, and Treasury and secondary bond yields rising during the window, banks face continued pressure to reprice deposits and loans while government-securities portfolios remain sensitive to yield moves. The rupee weakened and foreign investors sold rupee bonds for a second week. From 1 November, TIN verification will be required for bank accounts and credit cards, adding onboarding compliance.
Auto-generated from 45 sector news articles over 14 days. Not investment advice.
Sri Lanka sold the full Rs80 billion of Treasury bills at Wednesday's auction as yields rose across maturities: 3‑month 9.25% (+5bp; Rs41.87bn sold), 6‑month 9.41% (+4bp; Rs28.9bn sold) and 12‑month 9.95% (+2bp; Rs9.2bn sold).
The Central Bank said private sector credit growth slowed to 24.5% year-on-year in August from about 30% after May's monetary tightening, but remains sufficient to support economic growth. Sri Lanka's GDP growth eased to 4.2% year-on-year and the bank still expects around 5% for the year.
Sri Lanka's rupee was quoted at 330.68/75 to the US dollar (from 330.70/90) while bond yields were steady to lower-e.g. the 01.08.2030 bond at ~11.15-11.17% and the 01.11.2033 at ~11.88-11.95%-as an 80,000 million rupee T‑bill auction was ongoing.
The Central Bank kept the Overnight Policy Rate at 8.75% and said headline inflation, which hit 8% in August, is projected to remain in high single digits through Q1-2027. It cited pass-through from an energy shock and said reserves rose to about USD 6.9bn while the external sector remained resilient.
The Central Bank maintained the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 8.75% after its Monetary Policy Board meeting, citing resilient growth and elevated inflation. Headline inflation rose to 8.0% (y/y), gross official reserves were USD 6.9bn, and the next policy review is on 20 November 2026.
The Cabinet approved gazetting amendments to the 1917 Trust Ordinance to require identification and registration of ultimate beneficial owners, settlors, trustees and beneficiaries and to allow information-sharing with the FIU, law enforcement and tax authorities. The Bill, cleared by the Attorney General, will be published in the Gazette and presented to Parliament as part of Sri Lanka's drive to align trust laws with FATF/APG anti-money-laundering standards.
Secondary government bond yields rose across key maturities as selling interest pushed yields higher ahead of today's Monetary Policy Review; a Rs.80 billion T‑bill auction (91/182/364-day) is scheduled. The rupee appreciated marginally to about Rs.330.75/330.90 and money-market liquidity showed a net surplus of Rs.151 billion.
The Colombo Stock Exchange and the Global Green Growth Institute have opened applications for free technical assistance to prospective GSS+ (Green, Social, Sustainable and Sustainability-Linked) bond issuers; the call is open until 26 October 2026 and covers framework development, SPO coordination, post-issuance reporting and capacity building.
AICPA and CIMA presented their National Budget 2027 proposals to the Treasury, urging policies to unlock productive investment, broaden the tax base, increase capital flow, strengthen value-added exports and align skills and digital capability.
Foreign investors sold a net Rs 9,169 million (US$27.8m) of Sri Lanka rupee bonds in the week to Sept 25, the second straight week of net selling and taking the two-week net outflow to Rs 16.5 billion; foreign holdings fell to Rs 196.9 billion.
The LMD-PepperCube Business Confidence Index rose 13 points to 162 in September (from 149). The report also notes official foreign reserves climbed to US$6.9bn and the Central Bank absorbed US$579m from the domestic FX market, while Brent crude neared US$110.
Sri Lanka's secondary government bond market turned bearish with yields rising across maturities, for example the 15.10.34 at 12.00% and the 15.06.35 at 12.15%, as selling intensified ahead of the central bank policy decision. Bloomberg expects the CBSL to hold the policy rate at 8.75% on Sept 30 amid rising inflation from higher food and fuel and mixed FX trends.
Sri Lanka's rupee was quoted at 330.90/331.10 to the US dollar on Tuesday, slightly weaker than the prior day, while government bond yields opened broadly steady with only small moves across maturities. An 80,000 million rupee Treasury bill auction is scheduled for Sept 30.
The Colombo bourse fell to a six-month low as the ASPI closed down 0.44% at 20,943.79 and turnover hit a year low of Rs. 596 million; foreign investors were net buyers of Rs. 7.9 million. Top negative contributors included CARS, DIAL, COMB, CINS and SEMB.
Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC plans to raise up to Rs. 4 billion via a five-year Basel III-compliant Tier 2 debenture issue (up to 40 million Rs.100 debentures). The bank also plans a separate senior debenture opening 1 Oct. to raise up to Rs. 5 billion, together up to Rs. 9 billion.
Capital One will open Donatello on 25 September 2026, a Bespoke Private Wealth Management lounge for HNW and UHNW clients in Sri Lanka offering customised investment strategies, wealth and estate planning, investment advisory and concierge services in an art-focused setting.
DFCC Bank hosted the 49th ADFIAP Annual Meetings in Colombo (23-25 Sep 2026), bringing development finance institutions, policymakers and private investors together to discuss mobilising patient capital, blended finance and partnerships to convert macro stability into long-term investment and growth.
The Colombo Stock Exchange and the Global Green Growth Institute have opened applications for technical assistance to prospective GSS+ (Green, Social, Sustainable and Sustainability-Linked) bond issuers, with the call open until 26 October 2026; selected issuers will receive no-cost support for framework development, SPO coordination, post-issuance reporting (first year) and capacity building.
Asian stocks slipped as Brent futures rose 2.1% to $106.49/bbl and US crude hit $93.84, while rising bond yields lifted odds of further central-bank rate hikes and kept markets on edge.
The Credit Information Bureau of Sri Lanka (CRIB) held its 36rd AGM and reported 2025 revenue up 45% to Rs.2.41 billion and PAT up 42% to Rs.1.48 billion. Total credit reports rose 41% to 13.46m, CRIB Score adoption jumped 89% to 7.7m, and it is accelerating AI-driven credit intelligence and data-protection measures.
The Association of Professional Bankers ran a CPD event preparing Sri Lanka's banking sector for its APG mutual evaluation (on-site 26 Oct-6 Nov 2026) that will assess AML/CFT/PF technical compliance and effectiveness. Speakers urged a shift from documentation-led checks to outcome-focused, risk-based controls.
Sri Lanka's central bank is seeking a Red Team Specialist on a three-year contract to strengthen proactive threat intelligence, network defence and breach simulation by running intelligence-led red team engagements and hunt missions. The role includes tracking ransomware groups, phishing kits and fraud on the dark web; applicants must be under 30 as of Oct 31.
Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando met the National Executive Committee of the Banking and Finance Forum to discuss harnessing banking professionals' expertise, finalising 2027-2029 collective agreements for state-owned banks and proposals on Advance Personal Income Tax (APIT).
The Inland Revenue Department said a valid TIN certificate will be compulsory from 1 November 2026 for opening bank accounts, registering vehicles, land and businesses, obtaining credit cards and for share transfers. A printed IRD e‑Services verification showing NIC and TIN may substitute for the certificate; individuals should obtain a TIN in advance via the IRD portal.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka will announce its Monetary Policy Board decision at 7:30 a.m. on 30 Sept; the current Overnight Policy Rate is 8.75% and headline inflation rose to 8.0% YoY in August, above the CBSL target band.
Fitch says global growth is holding up but real policy interest rates are rising; it raised its 2026 global GDP forecast to 2.6% (up 0.2pp). Fitch expects the US Fed to hike again in December and hold rates around 4.25% next year, citing energy-price shocks and ongoing AI/IT capex as key influences on yields and growth.
Fitch upgraded Sri Lanka to 'B-' and restructured 2036/2038 bonds rallied to about 103 cents on the dollar. Standard Chartered and the Central Bank said Sri Lanka should aim to return to international capital markets before the IMF program ends in March 2027 while avoiding aggressive borrowing.
Inland Revenue Department requires a valid TIN Certificate from November 1, 2026 before eight specified transactions, including opening bank accounts, obtaining building-plan approval, vehicle and land registration, registering a business, transferring shares and obtaining credit cards. The rule applies to resident individuals aged 18+ as specified in the 2026 amendment and IRD notice.
Fitch upgraded Sri Lanka's sovereign rating to B- from CCC+ with a Stable outlook. CBSL Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said the upgrade reflects macro stabilization and reforms, and outlined measures including a National Climate Finance Strategy and linking LANKAQR with regional payment systems to support tourism and investment.
Fitch upgraded Sri Lanka's long-term IDR to B- from CCC+ (Stable) on 22 Sept; Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando said stronger revenue collection (16.7% of GDP) and a 5.4% primary surplus in 2025, alongside external-sector resilience, drove the upgrade.