News & market updates

Over 24,000 passengers have used the new electronic gates at Bandaranaike International Airport since the soft launch on 23 December 2025; the system was fully implemented on 28 January 2026. Average uptake is around 4% of arriving passengers, with authorities expecting usage to rise while noting possible technical glitches during the initial rollout.

Colombo market recovered as the ASPI rose 0.22% (52.82 pts) to 23,734.50, driven by high-net-worth crossings that made up 49.4% of turnover (COMB contributed Rs.3.2bn); market turnover was Rs.8.24bn and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.1.3bn.

At its 7th AGM on 27 January, the Event Management Association of Sri Lanka announced the Event Management sector has been formally recognised as an industry after securing Cabinet approval, opening the sector to structured growth and regulation.

A Sri Lanka delegation led by Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeyasinghe met Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in Riyadh on 25 Jan 2026 to pitch investment opportunities in Sri Lanka and its capital market. PIF outlined its 2026–2030 strategic plan and both sides agreed to open follow-up channels and pursue a bilateral investment protection agreement.

Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe led a Sri Lankan delegation to meet Saudi Public Investment Fund officials in Riyadh to present investment opportunities, capital-market reforms and discuss a Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement; both sides agreed to continue talks.

IFC proposes up to $20m to support John Keells' South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) capacity expansion to fund new ship-to-shore cranes. The funding will use IFC’s MCPP with a parallel lender; IFC also announced a separate $166m SME financing package via NTB, Commercial Bank and NDB.

Sri Lanka Customs collected Rs.232.55 billion in January, beating the Rs.160.2 billion target by Rs.72.35 billion (45%). Officials attributed the surge to higher import volumes, favourable currency movements and tighter enforcement; the 2025 Customs target is Rs.2,207 billion, down 13.5% amid expected vehicle import declines.

The SLUKCC and Sri Lanka High Commission in London held a panel to strengthen Sri Lanka–UK trade ties, urging firms (especially SMEs) to use the UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme, noting relaxed apparel Rules of Origin. The event promoted Sri Lanka Expo 2026, investment opportunities and Colombo real estate projects.

Sri Lanka's current account reached a $1.7 billion surplus in 2025, up 43.8% YoY, driven by record workers' remittances and stronger services inflows despite a wider trade deficit. Vehicle imports totaled $2.05 billion in 2025, tourist earnings fell and gross official reserves stood at about $6.8 billion while the rupee depreciated 5.6% YTD.

A Gazette amendment permits women over 18 to be employed as janitorial and food service attendants between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., expanding night‑work categories; the Labour Ministry requires employers to provide accommodation, transport, health and safety and welfare measures where needed.

Sri Lanka and UK officials and business leaders met in London to push stronger trade and investment ties, urging Sri Lankan firms to use the UK's Developing Countries Trading Scheme (including relaxed apparel Rules of Origin) and promoting Expo 2026. The BOI said Sri Lanka aims for nearly 7% growth by attracting higher-quality investment.

The Sri Lanka Economic Association will hold its Annual International Conference on 6–7 February in Colombo to map a services-led economic revival, with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and CBSL Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe attending. Panels will focus on digitalisation (AI/ICT), tourism value-per-visitor, banking resilience and policy briefs for the 2026–2030 PIP.

The FICAC South Asia Regional Conference opens in Colombo (2–4 Feb) at Cinnamon Life to convene consuls, diplomats and business leaders to promote investment, tourism and regional partnerships. Organisers expect sector roundtables and working groups to generate follow-ups in tourism, hospitality and logistics.

Government approved several measures to accelerate tourism, including a digital entry pass, expedited tourist visa processing, streamlined domestic air services and airport-to-destination bus links. The meeting was led by Minister Vijitha Herath and attended by stakeholders including John Keells Holdings chair Krishan Balendra.

The Colombo market ended lower with the ASPI down 0.37% (88.58 pts) to 23,812.31 amid profit-taking, elevated turnover and net foreign outflows (week net outflow > Rs.2.36bn); daily turnover was about Rs.9.2bn and foreign investors were net sellers (Rs.1.7bn yesterday).

The Sri Lanka–UK Chamber of Commerce and Sri Lanka High Commission hosted a London panel on 27 Jan 2026 to boost bilateral trade and investment, urging firms to utilise the UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) and noting relaxed apparel Rules of Origin. Organisers promoted Sri Lanka Expo 2026 (18–21 June) and highlighted opportunities in tourism, IT/BPO, real estate and global value‑chain integration.

National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka will hold a half-day 'Total Quality Management' session on Tuesday 10 February from 09:00–12:30 at the National Chamber Auditorium, led by Sunil G Wijesinha. The seminar covers TQM principles (Kaizen, 5S, quality circles) for managers across manufacturing and services; registration closes 5:00 p.m. on Monday 9 February 2026.

Port City Colombo is being positioned as a 269-hectare, services-led SEZ with US$1.4bn initial infrastructure, projected to deliver 143,000 direct jobs and US$15bn cumulative FDI. The article highlights institutional measures — the CPCEC and BSI regulations — aimed at providing predictable governance to attract long-term finance, IT and professional services investment.

Colombo market fell as the ASPI dropped 0.38% (91.22 pts) to 23,900.89 with turnover over Rs.6.9bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.20.9m. Top negatives included Senkadagala Finance, Ceylon Tobacco, John Keells, Carson Cumberbatch and C T Holdings while Prime Lands Residencies gained.

The 13th Sri Lanka–Pakistan Joint Economic Commission met in Colombo and agreed cooperation across IT, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and maritime connectivity, including a Joint Working Group on IT and progress on pineapple and avocado export procedures. Commerce-level talks also reviewed PSFTA implementation.

The SEC and Colombo Stock Exchange held an 'Invest Sri Lanka' investor forum in Dubai on 22 Jan 2026 to promote Sri Lanka's capital market and attract FDI, including strategic meetings with Mubadala and UAE banks; CSE noted ASPI >23,800 (120% growth since Oct 2024) and $976m capital raised in 2024–25.

BOI promoted two proposed University Towns — Keragala (125-acre, USD 370m investment, IRR 15–18%, 6–7 year payback) and Sooriyawewa (250-acre, USD 640m, IRR 16–17%, 7–8 year payback). The investment forum drew 16 local and international education institutions and BOI highlighted incentives and higher foreign ownership allowances.

SLTDA's rapid assessment found Sri Lanka's tourism sector loses $1.13 billion annually in economic leakages despite earning $3.17bn in 2024 and about $3.2bn in 2025. The losses are driven mainly by procurement-related imports exceeding $800m and informality-related fiscal losses of $84.8m, and the findings will inform a three-year implementation roadmap to retain more tourism value.

John Keells Holdings (JKH) reported 3Q EBITDA of Rs. 23.76 billion, up 68%, and declared a second interim dividend of Rs. 0.10 (Rs. 1.77 billion outlay). Group revenue rose 54% to Rs. 125.05 billion and PBT increased 113% to Rs. 12.89 billion.

John Keells Holdings reported Group EBITDA up 68% year-on-year to Rs.23.76 billion in Q3. Nine-month EBITDA rose 84% to Rs.55.10 billion, profit attributable was Rs.6.48 billion, City of Dreams and the Colombo West terminal are ramping up, and a second interim dividend of Rs.0.10/share was declared.

The Export Development Board and ADB held validation workshops (12–14 Jan) for the draft National Export Development Plan 2025–2029. The draft sets six strategic objectives covering logistics and hubs, trade facilitation, trade finance, trade promotion, quality/ESG, and skills/innovation.

David Pieris Logistics opened Jaffna’s first purpose-built multi-user 3PL warehouse near Palaly International Airport, offering warehousing, handling and regional distribution for FMCG, retail, agriculture and manufacturing and aiming to boost supply-chain connectivity and local employment.

SEC and the Colombo Stock Exchange held the 'Invest Sri Lanka' investor forum in Dubai on 22 January 2026 to promote Sri Lanka's capital markets and meet regional investors and institutions including Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. CSE highlighted the ASPI at over 23,800 (≈120% since Oct 2024) and USD 976m raised in 2024–25, while the Central Bank discussed resuming foreign credit lines with UAE banks.

A Parliamentary Select Committee will meet weekly from 28 January to investigate the release of 323 containers from the Port of Colombo without mandatory physical inspection, and aims to complete its inquiry and submit recommendations to Parliament within three months.