News & market updates

The National Chamber of Exporters opened applications for the 34th NCE Export Awards, closing Sept 30, 2026, with the awards ceremony on Dec 11 at Shangri‑La Colombo. Ex-Pack Corrugated Cartons PLC is the main sponsor and Dialog Enterprise is the event's digital technology partner.

Hayleys PLC led World Environment Day 2026 activities across its plantation group, with Kelani Valley, Talawakelle and Horana plantations running tree-planting, awareness campaigns and Talawakelle launching the Hill Country Green Force volunteer initiative.

Exhibitor registration for Sri Lanka Expo 2027 is open until 31 July 2026. The expo runs 14–17 Jan 2027 at BMICH with 650 booths across 25 sectors and offers opportunities to meet over 1,500 global buyers.

Lassana Agri Innovations signed an exclusive partnership with India's Rise N Shine Biotech to be the exclusive sales, marketing and distribution partner for selected floriculture and ornamental varieties in Sri Lanka, effective 1 July 2026. The deal provides access to international planting material, cultivation technology, training and potential buy-back arrangements to support growers and develop the domestic floriculture supply chain.

EDB says the proposed 12.5% US tariff on imports from Sri Lanka is not new and relates to an ongoing reciprocal tariff process, and officials are seeking to avoid the levy by concluding a trade agreement. Sri Lanka must file an appeal by 9 July and the proposed tariff would take effect on 24 July unless amended.

The government has revoked the Gazette restriction banning the use of rice and paddy in animal feed, restoring permission for their processing, purchase, sale, transport, storage and distribution for feed production with effect after 24 June.

June national sales average (NSA) for Sri Lankan tea fell to Rs. 1,153.49 (US$3.45), down Rs. 31.07 and $0.20 from May. The cumulative NSA for Jan–Jun 2026 was Rs. 1,162.09, a marginal Rs. 3.55 rise YoY, with High Grown teas recording the sharpest monthly decline.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board has kept online exhibitor registration for Sri Lanka Expo 2027 open until 31 July 2026. The expo will run 14–17 January 2027 at BMICH with 650 booths and opportunities to meet over 1,500 global buyers across 25 sectors.

UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka hosted CATALYZE 2026: Environment, a two-day forum on corporate environmental sustainability; Sampath Bank was main partner and listed firms including Dilmah, Teejay Lanka, Hayleys, Talawakelle, Commercial Bank and Kelani Valley participated as partners or patrons.

New Anthoney's is promoting its antibiotic-free Harithahari chicken to tackle antimicrobial resistance and position for export as Sri Lanka consumes about 258,000 metric tonnes of chicken annually. The company has an MoU with the University of Peradeniya and uses strict biosecurity protocols to support its antibiotic-free certification.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan agreed to boost bilateral trade, investment and entrepreneurship through initiatives including technology exchanges, export facilitation and a planned business forum in Pakistan. Measures include gem & jewellery tech programs, steps to reverse tea export declines, opening pineapple/avocado exports and exploring Pakistani investment in Sri Lankan pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Hayleys PLC's Hayleys Plantations sector marked World Environment Day 2026 with tree planting, awareness programmes, the Surakimu Ganga freshwater initiative and the launch of Talawakelle's 'Hill Country Green Force' across Kelani Valley (KVAL.N0000), Talawakelle (TPL.N0000) and Horana (HOPL.N0000).

Sri Lanka's Export Development Board and Germany's Import Promotion Desk renewed an MoU to boost market access for export-oriented SMEs through trade promotion, technical expertise, capacity building and market access facilitation. The deal emphasizes support for natural-ingredients exporters and women-led enterprises.

Sri Lanka's unemployment rate edged down to 3.7% in Q1 2026 from 3.8% a year earlier, while labour force participation fell to 49.2% from 49.7%. Services accounted for 50.4% of employment, industry 25.9% and agriculture 23.7%, with youth and female unemployment notably higher.

The Export Development Board hosted a regional Exporters' Networking Forum in Chillaw to link North Western and North Central provincial exporters with government institutions and address customs, legal and market-access challenges. Attendees held direct talks with Sri Lanka Customs and the Inland Revenue Department to seek practical solutions and strengthen supply chains.

UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka held CATALYZE 2026: Social on 24 June to mobilize businesses on social sustainability and responsible leadership; participants and partners included Jetwing Symphony PLC, Lighthouse Hotel PLC, Hemas Holdings, Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank and Elpitiya Plantations.

Available evidence finds Sri Lanka's oil palm (≈10,400 ha, established on degraded/marginal low-country land, not via forest conversion) does not inherently cause greater soil degradation or erosion than tea, rubber or coconut when good management and organic-matter recycling are applied.

GITA, together with the Indo‑Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has launched an India Trade Desk in Colombo to provide end-to-end, one-to-one advisory and market-entry support for Sri Lankan firms seeking to expand into India. The service targets SMEs and larger firms across textiles, food processing, ICT/BPM, tourism, pharma, logistics, manufacturing and renewable energy.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board and Germany's Import Promotion Desk signed an MoU renewing their partnership to strengthen export development and European market access for Sri Lankan export‑oriented SMEs, expanding cooperation on trade promotion, business matchmaking and support for women entrepreneurs.

UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka held CATALYZE 2026: Social on 24 June with Jetwing Symphony/Lighthouse Hotel PLC Chairman Hiran Cooray as a keynote speaker. Listed partners and patrons included Elpitiya Plantations, Hemas Holdings, Commercial Bank and Sampath Bank.

State Fertilizer Company will tender to buy 20,000 MT of urea (10,000 MT granular, 10,000 MT prilled) ahead of the Maha season. The Department of Agriculture estimates total chemical fertilizer need at 169,635 MT for about 800,000 ha of paddy, plus requirements for tea, vegetables and reserves.

ADB approved $200 million in emergency assistance for Sri Lanka's post-Cyclone Ditwah recovery (a $100m regular loan, $100m concessional loan and a $0.5m technical grant). The project will finance rehabilitation of roads and irrigation, restore smallholder livelihoods and support climate-resilient housing reconstruction.

The Tea Exporters Association urged President Dissanayake to provide targeted support to over 480,000 tea smallholders to restore productivity, noting production fell from 340m kg in 2013 to 261m kg in 2025 while exporters can process about 400m kg. TEA proposed infilling/replanting (Rs.200 per plant) financed by government, IFIs or banks and said improved yields would boost smallholder incomes and foreign exchange; the President expressed support.

Government launches national El Niño response, directing ministries to submit contingency plans within two weeks after a 63% assessed probability of a strong El Niño. Plans must cover food, water and energy contingencies and official updates will be issued only by the Department of Meteorology.

Tea Exporters Association urged government support for tea smallholder infilling to raise production after Sri Lanka's tea output fell from 340 million kg in 2013 to 261 million kg by 2025. Smallholders (480,000, c.75% of crop) face low yields (~150kg vs potential ~600kg/acre/month); infilling costs ~Rs.200/plant and the President expressed support.

ADB approved $200 million in emergency assistance for Sri Lanka's post-Cyclone Ditwah recovery, comprising a $100m regular loan, $100m concessional loan and a $500,000 technical grant to finance reconstruction of roads, irrigation, housing and support for smallholder farmers with climate-resilient measures.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa urged a whole-of-government, science-based National Climate Resilience strategy, warning of a limited window before a likely strong 2026–27 El Niño and proposing anticipatory governance, reservoir/water management, climate-smart agriculture, early warning systems and a disaster intelligence centre.

Hayleys Agriculture Holdings launched the 'Where Value Blossoms' campaign to position itself as a diversified, export-focused agricultural group (HJS Condiments ≈60% of Sri Lanka's processed fruit & veg exports). The company highlights digital platform OMNIX, sustainability measures (27% of water from sustainable sources), a 12,500+ outgrower network and a Haychem Bangladesh subsidiary.

Dividend · Rs 1.42 · XD Jul 9, 2026

First Interim dividend of LKR 1.42/share; XD 2026-07-09; record 2026-07-09; payable 2026-07-21; FY 31st March 2027