News & market updates

Thirteen labour unions submitted 18 policy-focused proposals for the 2026 Budget calling for labour-law reforms, forensic audits of SOEs (including Sri Lanka Telecom), retention of EPF management at the Central Bank, and a Rs.1 levy-funded social security scheme for gig workers.

A Sri Lankan business delegation is in Canada from 3–8 November 2025 to seek investment and partnerships in education, agriculture (agri‑tech and food processing), IT/digital startups, and tourism. The visit includes meetings with government, industry bodies and participation in the CBIE conference on joint degrees and research collaborations.

Markspen Group launched the GRANIFRIGOR Grain Cooling System in Sri Lanka, a German-made device that cools stored grain below 13°C to reduce post-harvest losses, pests and mould. The energy-efficient unit targets rice, corn and spices and uses low‑impact refrigerants to improve storage quality.

The ASPI briefly crossed an all-time high of 23,000 before dipping and closed at 22,953.49, up 0.11% (25.18 points). Turnover topped Rs.4.4bn with net foreign outflows of ~Rs.485.4m and heavy participation in counters including Aitken Spence, Colombo Dockyard, Sunshine and Commercial Bank.

Dividend · Rs 1.70 · XD Nov 14, 2025

First Interim dividend of LKR 1.7/share; XD 2025-11-14; record 2025-11-16; payable 2025-12-03; FY 31st March 2026

Browns Plantations has commissioned an expanded orthodox tea facility at Kitumbe, Kenya with 3 million kg annual capacity and aims for 25 million kg in East Africa within 18 months. The move targets higher‑value orthodox exports and expands the company's specialty tea footprint.

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation reduced its debt to the National Iranian Oil Company to US$130.6m by June 2025 from US$191m a year earlier via a Tea-for-Oil barter agreement. The Finance Ministry report said the settlements and supplier borrowing reflect forex shortages and liquidity measures that have suppressed interest rates.

CA Sri Lanka launched the Preparers’ Guide to SLFRS S1 and S2 and a three-tier Certified Sustainability Reporting and Strategy Adviser course to support national adoption of ISSB sustainability standards. The initiative aims to help companies and professionals implement the standards and improve quality of sustainability disclosures.

Ceylon Chamber of Commerce-led Sri Lankan business delegation is in Canada to explore investment and partnership opportunities in education, agriculture (agri‑tech/food processing), IT/digital and tourism, meeting Canadian firms, government bodies and attending the CBIE conference to promote two-way investment.

A Sri Lankan business delegation (3–8 Nov 2025) is in Canada to pursue investment and partnerships in education, agriculture, IT and tourism. Meetings target agri-tech and food-processing investment, IT/startup collaboration, tourism co-promotion and joint academic programmes at the CBIE conference.

The Sri Lanka–Thailand Business Council elected Rizan Nazeer as President and pledged to expand trade and cooperation, highlighting the Feb 2024 FTA that removes tariffs on about 85% of goods and aims to raise bilateral trade from roughly US$350m to over US$1bn. The Council plans to boost private-sector engagement, joint ventures and SME access across agriculture/food processing, health and wellness, tourism, renewable energy and technology.

Global meat prices hit a record in September, with the FAO meat index rising 0.7% for an eighth consecutive monthly gain amid tight US cattle supplies. Higher Brazilian prices, import flows from Australia and pest concerns in Mexico underpinned the rally while other food groups eased.

Ceylon Tea Brokers (CTBL.N0000) has signed a share sale agreement to sell 100% of Logicare to DP Logistics for Rs. 635.3 million (enterprise value Rs. 1.3 billion), marking its full exit from the logistics subsidiary to focus on core tea broking.

Sri Lanka average coconut prices rose 0.86% to Rs129,171.51 per 1,000 nuts at a weekly auction on Oct 30; 288,464 nuts were sold and local wholesale large-nut prices were Rs175–185 (retail Rs181.50–215).

Horana Plantations PLC (part of Hayleys) launched T-SHADE, a Verra-registered shade-tree carbon credit pilot that has restored 55 hectares and planted 7,094 shade trees and aims to scale to 100,000 hectares over a 40-year crediting period.

The Planters’ Association is urging the government to lift the April 2021 ban on oil palm cultivation, saying Sri Lanka has spent over $175m on edible oil imports since 2021 and that sector investments exceeding Rs.23bn were stranded by the ban.

Sri Lanka Agripreneurs’ Forum (SLAF) and India's BioAgri Inputs Producers Association (BIPA) signed an MoU in Colombo to collaborate on biological agriculture, including evaluating biostimulants, biofertilizers and bioprotection technologies and developing research and regional standards.

The Planters’ Association says Sri Lanka’s April 2021 ban on oil palm cultivation has forced plantation firms (including Watawala, Namunukula, Elpitiya and Malwatte Valley) into write-offs and contributed to over US$175m in edible oil import costs since 2021.

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa urged sending onion and potato farmers abroad to learn advanced agricultural techniques. He said continued import protection and proposed protectionist taxes have produced low yields and export-quality issues, keeping domestic prices high.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board will hold the 27th Presidential Export Awards on 11 Dec 2025 at BMICH to honor top exporters for FY2024/25; 66 awards will be presented and People’s Bank is the platinum sponsor, with Sri Lanka Tea Board and SLECIC as silver sponsors.

Advocata published five reform proposals ahead of Budget 2026, urging replacement of Port City tax exemptions with performance‑based tax credits, enactment of a Plant Variety Protection Act, accelerated national land titling, phased removal of para‑tariffs, and social protection reform to strengthen revenue and growth.

Sri Lanka's 2024 census shows the over-65 share rose to 12.6% and under-15s fell to 20.7%, pushing the dependency ratio to 49.8 dependents per 100 working-age people. The shift signals looming labour shortages in agriculture, garments and services and higher fiscal pressure on pensions and healthcare; retirement age has been raised to 60.

LIIN estimates Sri Lanka faces a $7–10bn annual investment gap to meet SDGs and is launching a $5m Impact Enterprise Fund (mid-2026) targeting SMEs with $50k–$100k investments and a first-loss guarantee covering up to 20% of defaults.

ASPI closed up 0.27% (62.41 pts) to 22,839.53 as HNW-led buying and large crossings in ATL, JKH and DOCK supported the recovery. Turnover was Rs.7.78bn with a net foreign outflow of Rs.857m; capital goods, insurance and retailing led activity.

Carson Cumberbatch PLC and Bukit Darah PLC said subsidiaries under Goodhope Asia have about 5,877 ha planted and 6,275 ha unplanted (≈12,152 ha) reclassified and transferred to state-owned PT Agrinas Palma Nusantara under Indonesia’s new forest laws. No penalties have been notified and discussions on management arrangements are ongoing.

Hatton Plantations PLC said parent Lotus Renewable Energy sold 8.4m ordinary shares (3.56% of issued) to Durga Infra for Rs.247.9m (Rs.29.40/share). Lotus remains top shareholder (75.65% as of 30 June 2025) and HPL's NAV per share was Rs.21.64 on that date.

Carson Cumberbatch (CARS.N0000) and Bukit Darah (BUKI.N0000) disclosed that Goodhope Asia has about 5,877 ha of planted and 6,275 ha of unplanted land affected by Indonesia’s new palm-oil spatial planning and forest-area repossession regulations. Affected lands were transferred to state-owned PT ASN, operations are continuing and no financial impact has yet been determined.

3,253 Sri Lankans departed for employment in South Korea in the first ten months of 2025, the SLBFE said. Workers (72 left on 29th) go under the E-9 visa to roles in manufacturing, construction, fisheries and agriculture for up to 4 years 10 months under an MoU with HRD Korea.

Carson Cumberbatch said new Indonesian forest laws have impacted 12,152 hectares linked to its group companies (about 5,877 ha planted and 6,275 ha unplanted). A state task force has repossessed lands and transferred them to PT Agrinas Palma Nusantara, which is in talks over plantation management; no current ban on activities.