News & market updates

CBSL Governor P. Nandalal Weerasinghe urged targeted South Asia integration by boosting energy links and digital connectivity, highlighting untapped regional renewable potential and India’s digital advances as immediate, practical areas for cooperation.

Dialog Axiata (DIAL.N0000) signed an agreement with Ericsson to deploy 5G RAN nationwide, supplying 3.5 GHz Massive MIMO radios, Ericsson 5G Advanced software and cloud-native infrastructure to expand coverage and enterprise services. Dialog currently operates Sri Lanka's largest 5G network with over 1.5 million subscribers.

Bitget launched a global mobile app upgrade that places crypto and TradFi side-by-side and aims to handle 40% of tokenized stock trading by 2030 (about $15–$30tn), consolidating crypto and TradFi products under unified Trade and TradFi tabs for one-click access.

Central Depository Systems Ltd (CDS), the Colombo Stock Exchange’s depository arm, has surpassed 1 million registered CDS accounts. The rise is credited to digitalisation (CSE Mobile App, CDS eConnect), near-complete dematerialisation (97% equity, 100% corporate debt) and expanded registrar services.

LankaPay announced the LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2026 (theme: “Inclusive FinTech”) to recognise payment and fintech innovators, with the grand finale on 24 March 2026 and awards based on interbank digital payment performance for 2025. The event is supported by major payment partners including Mastercard, UnionPay, NOVUS and Alipay+.

Dialog Axiata (DIAL.N0000) signed an agreement with Ericsson to deploy 5G RAN on the 3.5 GHz band, supplying Massive MIMO AIR 3219, 5G Advanced software and cloud-native infrastructure to expand nationwide 5G coverage and enterprise services. Ericsson will provide rollout, integration and optimization support.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened high-level meetings to review economic risks from the Middle East conflict and ordered monitoring and contingency measures for fuel supplies, tourism, exports and migrant workers. He also asked the Finance Ministry to study a technology-sector investment relief package.

Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik urged rule-of-law and investment-climate reforms to attract Norwegian capital and signalled plans to deepen trade, maritime cooperation, fisheries monitoring, renewable-energy and technology partnerships with Sri Lanka.

Global markets were volatile as the escalating Middle East conflict pushed oil up (Brent ~$81.18, nearly $10 above last Friday), drove sharp equity losses in Asia (South Korea KOSPI -12%), and lifted US Treasury yields (10-year 4.08%), stoking inflation and rate-cut worries.

The ASPI rose 256.12 points (1.13%) to 22,833.53, with the S&P SL20 up 68.14 points to 6,425.80; heavyweight contributors included John Keells, DFCC Bank, NDB, Dialog Axiata and Commercial Bank, and turnover was Rs.5.68bn.

Techzone opened a Lenovo Exclusive Store in Kandy, showcasing AI-powered Lenovo laptops, desktops and accessories to consumers and businesses in Sri Lanka’s Central Province.

University of Kelaniya won the CFA Institute Research Challenge Sri Lanka 2025/26 after teams presented investment analyses of Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka PLC (PickMe) at HNB Towers on Feb 27; the winners and runners-up advance to the Sub-Regional stage.

Government unveiled structural reforms at the AmCham CEO Forum aiming for 7% annual growth and a LKR 200 billion economy, including a 70% renewable-energy target by 2030, bank consolidation, port upgrades and support for IT, pharma and SME finance (LKR 300m ITIA allocation).

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake led a high-level discussion to assess the potential impact of the Middle East war on Sri Lanka’s economy and instructed urgent measures, including a relief package to promote investment in modern technology and data centres. Officials reviewed risks to fuel and gas supplies, stockpiles, tourism, ports, food security and inflation.

Sri Lankan annual reports are shifting to AI-driven, conversational formats; in 2025 Enfection partnered with People’s Leasing and Finance PLC to launch an AI Avatar-powered interactive annual report to make complex reports searchable and more accessible.

Metropolitan Technologies premiered the short film 'Little Life' to showcase Canon's cinema EOS C400 in Sri Lanka, demonstrating the camera's dynamic range, advanced colour science and low-light performance and marking Metropolitan and Canon's active entry into the local film industry.

HP outlined a five-pillar strategy to expand technology access, accelerate digitization for MSMEs and partner with government in Sri Lanka; it said it holds about 27% market share in Sri Lanka (Q4 2025, IDC).

Huawei says it has provided digital connectivity to 170 million people in remote areas across more than 80 countries, surpassing its ITU Partner2Connect pledge to connect 120 million by 2025.

Dialog Axiata (DIAL.N0000) will provide a free 2TB data bundle (350GB/month for six months) to customers who pre-order Samsung's Galaxy S26 in Sri Lanka during the promotional period (27 Feb–5 Mar 2026).

AmCham Sri Lanka CEO Forum 2026 convened 200+ leaders calling for reforms to restore economic confidence, targeting 7% annual growth and a 70% renewable-energy share by 2030. Panels highlighted SME support measures (Rs.300m, 'Level Up'), banking consolidation, infrastructure/port upgrades and FDI-attracting reforms.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board unveiled 'Edges of Sri Lanka' national branding alongside the official launch of Sri Lanka Expo 2026 to showcase the country's export and investment value proposition; the Expo will run 18–21 June 2026 at BMICH, Colombo.

SLT Group PAT surged 221% to Rs. 10.0 billion in FY2025, driven by cost savings, lower finance costs and steady revenue growth. SLT PLC posted PAT of Rs. 6.2 billion and Mobitel Rs. 3.1 billion as the group expanded fibre, data services and rolled out 5G.

U.S. stocks finished narrowly mixed after U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran triggered volatile trading; U.S. crude rose about 6% to $71.23, boosting energy and defense while tech stocks later led gains.

SLT Group reported PAT of Rs. 10 billion for FY2025, up 221% YoY, driven by cost savings and lower finance costs. SLT PLC posted PAT of Rs. 6.2bn (+196%) and Mobitel PAT Rs. 3.1bn (+2,123%); group revenue rose 3% to Rs. 114.2bn and Mobitel secured 5G spectrum.

Digital Economy Ministry Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala said Sri Lanka is in the final stage of enabling inward remittances via PayPal with collaboration from private banks and the Central Bank. Once live, SMEs and freelancers can receive foreign income through a regulated channel, supporting FX inflows and tax compliance.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said Sri Lanka welcomes increased Indian investment and tourist arrivals and welcomed India's $454 million long-term relief package; she highlighted cooperation across trade, energy, connectivity, digital transformation and health.

Portugal's Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel called for a 'new era' of structured economic partnership with Sri Lanka, highlighting cooperation in renewable energy (solar and wind), tourism, infrastructure/public works and digital development. Both countries agreed to reactivate their Joint Cultural Commission, and Portugal said it will advocate constructive engagement on Sri Lanka's GSP+ review in 2027.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said Sri Lanka welcomes investors and tourists as it moves towards sustainable growth, noting India’s USD 454 million long-term relief package and cooperation across energy, connectivity, trade, digital transformation, health and tourism.

WhatsApp Web users reported login issues with 25 outage complaints on Downdetector and iPhone users appearing particularly affected. Complaints persisted for over an hour with no response yet from Meta or WhatsApp.

US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Jayne Howell told an AmCham forum that deeper US engagement with Sri Lanka will depend on reciprocal trade, two-way FDI and predictable, transparent rules to attract American capital. She highlighted Port of Colombo expansion to 15m containers by 2027 and SelectUSA pathways for Sri Lankan firms to invest in the US.