News & market updates

Colombo market rebounded as ASPI rose 0.4% (S&P SL20 +0.6%) on turnover of Rs.11.87bn led by CT Holdings (Rs.3.6bn), Cargills (Rs.1bn), CDB, PickMe and Sierra Cables. Selected banks (HNB, NDB, NHL, BIL, DFCC) were top positive contributors while foreign investors were net sellers (Rs.2.6bn), with CT Holdings seeing net foreign selling.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose as the ASPI gained 0.46% to 20,769, with a C T Holdings crossing contributing Rs 3.6bn to turnover; C T Holdings closed down Rs 29.75 at Rs 689. Banks led gains with HNB, NDB and DFCC up, while Sampath and Nations Trust fell.

AyuSriLanka.lk won three awards including the Gold, Best Mobile User Experience and Most Popular Website, while WalkersTours.lk took Silver in the Best Travel and Tourism Website category at BestWeb.LK 2025.

IIHS launched a 1+2 pathway with Deakin University allowing students to do one year at IIHS and then two years at Deakin to earn internationally recognised health degrees (Sport & Exercise Science, Nutrition Science, Psychological Science) and access Australian post-study work rights.

Jendo Innovations, a Sri Lankan biomedical startup valued at several million dollars, closed a new investment round from predominantly US investors for its AI-powered device that detects early-stage heart disease in 15 minutes; FDA approval processes are underway and a Series A is planned.

The Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation will hold two World Alzheimer’s Month events in Colombo: a 5 km 'Run to Remember' on 13 Sept and a 'Memory Walk' on 27 Sept (entrance Rs.300), with sponsors including Janashakthi Insurance.

Allianz Insurance Lanka Ltd sponsored SoarFest ’25 at Galle Face Green on 2 August 2025 and offered one-on-one healthcare consultations to attendees to raise awareness about healthcare coverage.

The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) published a study finding cigarette smuggling is widespread in Sri Lanka and is undermining government revenue and public health. The study urges stronger enforcement, digital excise tax stamps, improved border controls and incentives for public reporting.

Yaden Laboratories, a 100% Sri Lankan pharmaceutical manufacturer, has made its first export of sterile liquid injectables (including ketamine and midazolam) to Zambia. The company says it will next export to Somalia and later to Cambodia and Azerbaijan as it seeks global expansion.

Opinion piece urging Sri Lankan system change and more 'green papers', highlighting China's medical advances — a gene-edited pig lung transplant, a 2024 medical-device market of USD 187.9bn and BCI market growth forecasts.

Vision Care Academy, the educational arm of Vision Care, held its 2025 convocation celebrating graduates from its diploma and certificate programs in optometry, ophthalmic assistance, dispensing optics and audiometry. The TVEC-accredited academy hosted distinguished medical guests and included graduates from the Bausch & Lomb Contact Lens Mastermind Program.

Kandy Ayurvedic Pharmacy Ltd won the Ayurvedic Product Manufacturing Excellence Award at the Global Business Excellence 2025 Elite Series II. The Kandy-based company, maker of the ‘Nuwara Osu’ range, produces over 300 ayurvedic and cosmetic products and exports to multiple countries.

ADB approved a $106.9 million financing package (a $100m loan and a $6.9m grant) to strengthen Sri Lanka's secondary healthcare services. The program will support hospital development, disease surveillance and labs, and improvements to pharmaceutical supply chains including digitalisation of government procurement.

Softlogic Holdings PLC appointed Imran Furkan as an Independent Non-Executive Director effective 29 August 2025. Furkan, CEO of Tresync (Australia), has prior board roles including at Odel, Asiri Surgical Hospital and Maharaja Foods and experience across health, retail and IT.

Hatton National Bank partnered with IHH Healthcare’s Sri Lanka office to run patient education sessions on orthopedics across Negombo, Kandy and Jaffna. The program covered trends such as robotic-assisted joint replacement, minimally invasive surgery and image-guided injections.

ISC Education and the Belarusian Graduates' Association held the Annual Belarusian Get-Together 2025 in Sri Lanka with over 200 participants and a White Coat Ceremony for 38 first-year medical students. Ten students received BSMU scholarships, including four Higher Achiever awards of $1,000 each.

CIC Holdings PLC was awarded a Rs. 639.5 million (ex-VAT) government contract to supply 20,000 nanocrystal silver dressings (20x40 cm) for wound care. CIC was the sole substantially responsive bidder and will represent Smith & Nephew Medical Ltd under the contract.

The Cabinet approved a directive requiring secretaries of ministries and institutional heads to directly connect their systems to the National Cyber Protection Operations Centre (under SLCERT) for continuous monitoring, detection and response to cyber threats.

Fitch warns that recent US reciprocal tariffs (25% from 7 Aug 2025, plus a 25% levy on certain oil imports from 27 Aug) raise risks for Indian corporates: while direct exposure is currently limited, higher or additional tariffs could hit pharmaceuticals, autos, chemicals and oil marketing companies and weigh on FY26 growth.

LAUGFS Holdings celebrates its 30th anniversary, noting its transformation from Gas Auto Lanka into a diversified conglomerate with operations in more than 20 companies across power & energy, retail, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, property and international markets.

Doc Talk (Pvt) Ltd launched Doc Talk, a new YouTube platform in Sri Lanka providing expert-driven health and wellness education and practical guidance on preventive care, nutrition, mental health and emerging medical trends.

Evertron's patented 'W.O.W' (Water Optimising Waves) technology, backed by about 40 global patents, will make its international debut in Sri Lanka and was unveiled at the Hilton Colombo by inventor Hisao Tanaka. The system targets applications across food preservation, healthcare, beauty and related consumer sectors by enhancing the molecular structure of water.

Major General (Dr.) P.A. Chrisantha Fernando (Retd.) has been appointed Independent Non-Executive Director and Chairman of The Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC. He is a consultant anaesthetist with over 34 years' experience and has held senior leadership roles in the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps.

Manufacturing PMI rose to 62.2 and Services PMI to 70.1 in July, indicating stronger expansion in both sectors. Manufacturing was supported by food & beverages and textiles/apparel, while services growth was driven by wholesale & retail trade, financial services and higher employment.

J Med Supply, founded by Sri Lankan-born John Amirthiah, was named to the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the US. Founded in 2016, the DME distributor operates distribution centres across multiple US states and serves hospices, nursing centres, pharmacies and Medicare providers.

Sri Lanka's central bank services PMI rose to 70.1 in July from 61.9 in June, indicating accelerated expansion led by wholesale and retail trade, financial services (higher lending) and transportation of goods. New business entries and employment also increased and near-term activity expectations improved.

Sri Lanka will allow regulated cannabis cultivation in designated export zones for medical-grade exports under BOI and Department of Ayurveda supervision, issuing initial six-month licences (renewable) to seven foreign investors and prohibiting domestic sale.