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.
Manufacturing export conditions weakened in August as apparel, tea and coconut-based product shipments fell, although merchandise exports remained higher over January-August. Exporters also reported certification delays, cost pressures and cheaper imported rubber undermining local value addition. Oil-price swings added uncertainty to energy and transport inputs, while industry proposals continued to stress higher-value agrifood processing, traceability and mechanisation.
Auto-generated from 16 sector news articles over 14 days. Not investment advice.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce ran business continuity management workshops to strengthen disaster preparedness across Sri Lanka's private sector, supporting the National Disaster Management Plan 2023-2030. The two-day sessions used an ISO 22301:2019-based curriculum developed under the World Food Programme's Disaster and Climate Resilience Project.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce completed a two-day Business Continuity Management workshop via its Centre for SMEs to help private-sector firms prepare contingency plans under the National Disaster Management Plan 2023-2030. The ISO 22301:2019-based training aims to strengthen organisational resilience and recovery of critical operations.
The EDB and SLAMERP held a full-day workshop, led by NCPC experts, on energy management and efficiency for Sri Lanka's rubber products manufacturers to improve profitability and competitiveness. Sessions covered EnMS, thermal/process optimisation, energy audits and renewable energy technologies.
ADB forecasts growth in developing Asia and the Pacific will moderate to 5.0% in 2026 from 5.5% in 2025 and edge up to 5.1% in 2027, trims 2026 inflation to 4.2%, and warns that a strong El Niño and geopolitical risks could push up food and energy prices.
An IPS study finds Sri Lanka's agrifood sector contributes 24.5% of GDP and 42.0% of employment and urges development of high-value, export-oriented agribusiness to boost growth and jobs. It identifies six export clusters (cinnamon, spices, coconut products, fruit & vegetable processing, seafood and tea) and notes strong recent export gains.
The National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) warned exporters face certification delays and cost pressures, with tea export earnings down 17.22% YoY to $116.73m in July 2026. It said imported rubber is cheaper than local supplies, hurting value-add, and will boost FTA awareness and run an AI-driven digital marketing programme with NIBM.
Sri Lanka's merchandise exports fell 1% to $1,269.49m in August 2026 year-on-year, led by declines in apparel (down 8.4% to $464.27m), tea (down 7.76% to $130.92m) and coconut-based products (down 17.28% to $104.27m). Total Jan-Aug exports rose 4.26% to $12.01bn.
Colombo bourse ended a two-session recovery as rising global oil prices hit sentiment: ASPI fell 0.09% to 21,066.89 and S&P SL20 fell 0.08% to 5,942.78. Turnover was over Rs 1.3bn, foreigners were net sellers of Rs 162.4m; top decliners were DIAL, CINS, RICH, CIC and DIST.
Oil prices rose over 2% as US-Iran diplomatic talks showed little progress and uncertainty grew about a possible US diesel export ban; Brent was $105.51/bbl (up $2.43) and WTI $93.90/bbl (up $1.74).
An IPS study (for the World Bank) says strengthening high-value, export-oriented agribusiness and food processing can unlock export growth; the report finds the agrifood sector contributes 24.5% of GDP and 42.0% of employment while primary agriculture is 8.3% of GDP.
An IPS study finds Sri Lanka's agrifood sector contributes 24.5% of GDP and 42.0% of employment and identifies six high-potential export clusters (cinnamon, spices, coconut, fruit & vegetable processing, seafood, tea). It reports food & beverage manufacturing generates USD 1.85 of output per USD 1 of final demand (vs USD 1.20 for primary agriculture) and recommends boosting high-value, export-oriented agribusiness while addressing tariff, policy and R&D constraints.
Sri Lanka's total exports surpassed $12.0bn in Jan-Aug 2026, up 4.26% YoY. Merchandise exports rose 3.63% to $9.41bn and services grew 6.59% to $2.6bn; August exports were $1.601bn (+1.77%), with services up 13.97%.
GS1 Lanka used its AGM to drive Sri Lanka's transition to 2D barcodes (QR/Data Matrix) under the global GS1 Sunrise 2027 initiative, urging brands, retailers and healthcare providers to prepare and launching a new retail information platform. GS1 Lanka reports 5,500+ members and over 20,000 product records on its platforms.
Ajai Vir Singh, founder and MD of Colombo Fashion Week, will participate in the BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow (Sept 28-30), and Colombo Fashion Week has arranged for Sri Lankan designer Kamil Hewawitharna to showcase at Moscow Fashion Week. The summit is positioned to help Sri Lankan fashion diversify export channels and build industry connections.
BOI hosted a 25-member diplomatic delegation to showcase the 255-acre Punnaikuda Eravurpattu Textile Manufacturing Zone and Jay Jay Mills, which aims for a 100 t/day fabric capacity. The zone seeks to localize apparel supply chains, attract foreign fabric mills under BOI incentives and create jobs with eco-friendly controls.
Colombo bourse extended its rally into a second session as the ASPI rose 0.15% (31.14 pts) to 21,085.15 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.31% to 5,947.50. Market turnover was over Rs.1.3bn on 83m shares, foreigners were net sellers of Rs.2.6m, and top contributors were COMB, DIAL, OSEA, HMN and HHL.
Sri Lanka's total exports reached US$12.01bn in Jan-Aug 2026, up 4.26% year‑on‑year, surpassing the US$12bn milestone. Merchandise exports rose 3.63% to US$9.41bn and services grew 6.59% to US$2.60bn; August exports were US$1.601bn (+1.77% YoY) with services up 13.97%.
The Institute of Policy Studies issues policy recommendations to boost durable growth, prioritising trade competitiveness: simplify tariffs, remove para‑tariffs, phase out Export‑Import CESS and introduce a trade‑adjustment assistance package to support exporters. It also urges fiscal reforms, greater direct taxation, higher public investment in skills and shock‑responsive social protection.
The Chamber of Marine Industries of Sri Lanka held its AGM on 15 September 2026 and appointed Ricky Barnett as its new Chairman. New office-bearers were named and the Chamber said the leadership will work with members and government to strengthen marine manufacturing, boat-building, maritime services and nautical tourism.
Global equities rose (MSCI All-World +1.03%) as technology shares climbed on surging AI infrastructure demand while oil futures eased (US crude down 4.8% to $95.49/bbl); bond yields fell modestly even as markets price further central bank rate hikes.
EDB unveiled a SriLankan Airlines A321neo branded with the "Sri Lanka Expo 2027" identity to promote the international exhibition scheduled for 14-17 Jan 2027 at BMICH, Colombo. The expo aims to host 750+ exhibitors and 1,500+ international buyers, and SriLankan will offer up to 20% economy and 10% business fare discounts for attendees.
The Export Development Board organised Sri Lanka's first national pavilion at Fine Food Australia 2026 (31 Aug-3 Sep), a 90 sqm exhibit that brought 12 Sri Lankan food and beverage exporters to showcase tea, spices, coconut products, seafood and processed foods to Australian buyers to boost exports and market access.
SAPPTA chairman Ryan Rambukwella urged Sri Lanka's spices industry to target $1 billion in exports, saying that will require shifting from commodity trading to value addition, branding, improved traceability, financing and mechanisation. He also proposed examining controlled imports of raw materials for re‑export.
Omega Traders is opening a new Lentil & Orid Dhal Processing Factory in Wattala, to be inaugurated on 18 Sept 2026, with about 150 metric tonnes per eight-hour production day capacity. The facility adds advanced sorting and quality-control systems and will process locally sourced black matpe to boost domestic value addition.
GRI and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board signed a strategic multi-year cooperation agreement on 7 September to strengthen sustainability and impact reporting across Sri Lanka's export ecosystem, with particular emphasis on SMEs and alignment with the National Export Development Plan 2026-2030.
Global oil prices fell for a third day, with Brent down 2.2% to $102.57/bbl and US WTI down 1.9% to $100.05, as investors weighed fresh Saudi-Yemen strikes against signs that additional Saudi crude may reach global markets and ease supply concerns.
The ASPI fell 0.52% (109.98 pts) to 21,023.43, hitting a 23-week low as selling driven by concerns over rising interest rates and sustained crude above $100 pressured the market. Top drags included Melstacorp, Dialog, Hayleys, Ceylon Beverage and RIL while foreigners were net sellers of ~Rs.213m; turnover ~Rs.1.3bn.
Applied Materials will invest $5 billion in India over the next decade to expand research, scale up its supply chain and grow its workforce, the US semiconductor equipment maker said at SEMICON India.
CBSL's Business Condition Index eased to 101 in Q2 2026 from 104 in Q1 but is projected to recover to 107 in Q3. The Q2 slowdown was driven by weaker Agriculture and Industry sentiment while Services remained resilient; firms reported higher input/output prices, rising bank credit demand and tight labour availability.
Rivon Agriglobe and Rivon Lanka launched the ZETOR HORTUS 50 and Agriglobe 50 tractors, the Z-Tukoba power tiller and a range of Rover electric motorcycles at a dealer event in Dambulla on the 4th, attended by over 120 dealers, marking their entry into Sri Lanka's agricultural machinery and e-mobility market.