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.
The Export Development Board organised Sri Lanka’s first national pavilion at Fine Food Australia 2026 (31 Aug-3 Sep), a 90 sqm pavilion that brought together 12 Sri Lankan food and beverage exporters to showcase tea, cinnamon, coconut products, processed foods and seafood to Australian and international buyers.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board, with the Sri Lanka High Commission in the Maldives and private partners, ran a Sri Lanka Country Pavilion at Food and Hospitality Asia Maldives (FHAM) 7-9 Sept, showcasing 10 SMEs under 'Creative Sri Lanka 2030' to promote giftware and lifestyle exports to the Maldivian hospitality market. The initiative targets resort buyers with high-value niche products such as home décor, spa items and artisanal souvenirs.
Sri Lanka Customs collected Rs 2 trillion through Sept. 15-over 90% of its Rs 2,207 billion 2026 target-and is on track to exceed the full-year target. Officials say stronger enforcement, improved valuation and a rebound in import volumes have driven the rise in collections.
Sri Lanka's apparel industry, which accounts for roughly 40% of merchandise export revenue and employs about 300,000-350,000 people, is pushing to lift apparel exports toward a US$8bn target and support the government's NEDP goal of US$28bn by 2030. Industry asks include stronger investment incentives, building local upstream capacity, automation and productivity upgrades, market diversification and faster trade negotiations.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka said the Manufacturing PMI was 53 in August (down from 55.6 in July) while the Services PMI rose to 65.6, showing expansion in both sectors. Manufacturing moderation was led by textiles and apparel, services growth was driven by transport, wholesale & retail and professional services; employment rose and suppliers' delivery times lengthened, with the outlook supported by expected higher tourist arrivals.
Sri Lanka exhibited at the 74th Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair (8-12 Sep 2026) with a 72‑booth Sri Lankan Pavilion. The participation, coordinated by the Embassy in Bangkok, aims to deepen trade ties and expand export opportunities to Thailand, which takes over 50% of the sector's exports.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board led a Sri Lanka Country Pavilion at FHAM Maldives (7-9 Sept 2026) showcasing 10 SMEs under Creative Sri Lanka 2030 to promote giftware and lifestyle exports to the Maldivian hospitality market. Exhibitors aimed to secure procurement links with luxury resorts, boutique hotels and souvenir retailers to grow niche, high-value exports.
Brown & Company and LOLC Holdings partnered with the government (51% state, 49% private) to revive the long-idle Hingurana/Gal Oya sugar factory, rebuilding infrastructure and expanding into ethanol, power and bio-fertiliser. The operation now cultivates ~8,500 ha, employs ~1,300 directly and works with 8,000 farmers, supporting roughly 30,000 people and reducing sugar imports.
Sri Lanka's GDP grew 4.2% year-on-year in Q2 2026 to Rs. 3,029,816 million (2015 prices), with current-price GDP up 11.3% to Rs. 8,254,176 million. Growth was led by Industry (+7.3%) and Services (+2.7%), including construction (+13.9%) and IT consultancy (+10%), while agriculture fell 2.3% and tourism remained subdued.
Former ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe urged a speedy conclusion of the bilateral tariff agreement with the US to protect exports and investment, noting the US accounts for 25% of Sri Lanka's exports, 90% of the agreement is complete and tariffs were cut from a planned 44% to 33% and 10% progressively.
IFH KÖLN and Messe Frankfurt's Global Consumer Goods Industry Index (second survey) shows the global business climate remains subdued at 100.4 (vs 100.1 in the first wave) while pressures have shifted to geopolitical uncertainty, rising production/procurement costs and tariffs. Manufacturing respondents citing global uncertainty rose to 84% (from 52%).
Sri Lanka launched 'Gem Sri Lanka 2027' in Bangkok to attract Thai buyers after exports to Thailand more than doubled to over $90m in 2025, with precious and semi-precious stones accounting for almost 70% of those shipments.
Chance Fashion opened a new high-tech manufacturing facility, showroom and factory outlet in Moratuwa, consolidating its manufacturing, showroom and retail operations at one site. The move is intended to strengthen manufacturing capacity and support expansion across retail, online and wholesale channels.
Sri Lanka and Germany identified practical avenues for cooperation to position Sri Lanka as a competitive maritime, logistics and export hub at a sector-focused briefing in Colombo; attendees included the Foreign Ministry, AHK Sri Lanka, EDB and SLPA, which outlined projects, investment opportunities and export strategy.
SLEIS 2026 (12-13 Oct) will host a session titled "Linking Sri Lanka to Asia's Growth Networks" to examine deepening trade connectivity, attracting investment and integrating into regional value chains. The keynote will be delivered by Standard Chartered CEO India & South Asia P. D. Singh, with government and industry panellists.
The Ministry, with the German Industry & Commerce delegation (AHK Sri Lanka), held a sector briefing on Sept 11 to position Sri Lanka as a competitive maritime, logistics and export hub and to deepen trade, investment and technology cooperation. SLPA outlined upcoming projects and the EDB presented the country's export strategy to identify German-Sri Lankan partnership opportunities.
AI-linked Asian stocks tumbled after CEOs of leading AI labs urged slowing AI development; SoftBank shares dropped as much as 13.2% and memory chipmaker Kioxia plunged 9.8%, with other major chip and tech firms also sliding across Asian markets.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will hold the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026 on 12-13 Oct 2026 (theme: Linking Sri Lanka to Asia's Growth Networks) to examine how the country can deepen regional supply-chain integration, improve trade connectivity and attract investment.
AMW Group MD Jawahar Ganesh says nearly 30,000 Nissan and Suzuki vehicles entered Sri Lanka through channels outside authorised distributors, leaving authorised dealers to serve only about 30% of the market and undermining international manufacturers' confidence to invest or expand.
Oil prices slipped on Friday but were up over 7% for the week, Brent $103.88/bbl, WTI $99.15/bbl, as attacks near key Middle East shipping routes and other disruptions pushed U.S. diesel to a record above $6/gal. European Central Bank officials also signalled the possibility of further rate rises if energy-driven inflation persists.
CSF urged the government to establish an independent Trade and Productivity Commission with its own secretariat, analytical capacity and monitoring powers to anchor a credible trade-adjustment program, warning reforms risk repeating past failures and citing a $10bn annual unrealised export potential.
The Ceylon Motor Traders' Association urged policymakers to stop an estimated Rs.40 billion 2025 revenue leakage from a blanket 15% CIF depreciation on used vehicle imports and called for a uniform duty structure and transparent valuation to ensure a level playing field across the automotive industry.
The Ceylon Motor Traders' Association urged the government to abolish the 15% vehicle depreciation rule before Budget 2027, saying the loophole could cause revenue leakage of up to Rs.120 billion in 2026. CMTA proposed an age-based interim cap (around 10%) and distributors such as DIMO warned of multi-million-rupee revenue losses per high-end vehicle.
The Export Development Board and University of Kelaniya launched a joint seminar and mini innovation exhibition on 3 September 2026 to boost Sri Lanka's electronic and electrical export sector, drawing over 50 participants and showcasing more than 30 new products. The initiative offers R&D, IP and AI marketing support to improve product quality and export readiness.
Colombo's ASPI fell 0.35% (76.23 pts) to 21,466 as Middle East tensions and rising global oil prices weighed on sentiment; the S&P SL20 slid 0.34% to 6,033.87. Market turnover was about Rs. 972m on 43m+ shares, with foreign investors net sellers of Rs. 71.3m; capital goods led turnover while diversified financials and banking were also active.
Senaro Motor Company opened Sri Lanka's first motorcycle Premier Center in Nugegoda and unveiled the new Senaro RR250. The 100% Sri Lankan-owned assembler, with a 23-year history, says its locally assembled models have over 35% local value addition and the center offers sales, genuine parts, modifications and after-sales support.
Hettich marked its 10th anniversary in Sri Lanka with an inaugural Partner Meet in Colombo and unveiled Blaupunkt built-in kitchen appliances for the local market. Vallibel One’s Managing Director Dinusha Bhaskaran attended the event.
Sri Lanka Export Development Board and the University of Kelaniya held "Innovation Bridge 2026" on 3 Sep, a seminar and mini-exhibition to boost electronic and electrical exports via R&D, IP support and AI marketing tools; over 50 participants attended and 30+ new products were displayed.
The government has renewed focus on handloom, calling it an "industry of the future" and setting an export ambition of US$100 million. The article argues Sri Lanka should build a creative economy-linking makers, designers and markets-rather than simply expanding production.
GRI and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board signed a multi-year cooperation agreement on 7 Sep 2026 to strengthen sustainability and impact reporting across Sri Lanka's export ecosystem, with particular emphasis on SMEs. The partnership will build on prior textile/apparel collaboration and align GRI Standards with Sri Lanka's NGRS and IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards.