News & market updates

Softlogic Holdings (Softlogic Life) appointed former cricketer Wasim Akram as brand ambassador and launched a TV commercial, noting a 36% market share in the insurance sector.

Ceylinco Life’s Family Savari 19 grand-prize winners — five policyholder families (20 people) — returned from an all-expenses-paid Beijing tour featuring the Great Wall, Forbidden City and other attractions. Family Savari has benefited over 37,000 people from 11,000+ policyholder families since 2007.

Sri Lanka received 54,465 tourists in the first 14 days of June, down 9% year-on-year. Year-to-date arrivals to 14 June were 1,076,487 (1.2% lower YoY), with India the largest source market (25% YTD), followed by the UK and Russia.

CBSL Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe told Parliament the Sri Lankan rupee weakened 8% vs USD between end-2025 and 9 June 2026 and defended a flexible exchange rate under the FIT framework as a shock absorber, citing higher imports, lower tourist inflows, speculation and financial outflows.

Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka (John Keells Hotels) is running Father’s Day promotions from 19–21 June offering limited-edition 'Super Dad' 500g cakes at LKR 4,500++ and a slow-cooked short ribs dinner with free-flow pints priced at LKR 14,500+++ per person.

Dinking Divas 2026, Sri Lanka’s first women-only pickleball tournament, will be held 20–21 June 2026 at Colombo Pickle Club to encourage female participation—particularly women over 40—and build community and pickleball-related tourism activity.

Commercial Bank (COMB.N0000) now lets Premium/Platinum credit and Elite debit cardholders convert Max Loyalty Rewards points into airline miles with SriLankan Airlines and other carriers at a promotional rate of 6 points = 1 FlySmiLes mile through 31 Dec 2026, via its existing digital platform.

MAS Bodyline led a Sri Pada clean-up on 31 May with nearly 1,000 volunteers, clearing about 5,000 kg of non-biodegradable waste. The third consecutive annual effort was supported by religious leaders, security forces, healthcare teams and local authorities.

Parliament’s Committee on Public Finance flagged weaknesses in Sri Lanka’s external sector statistics, saying tourism earnings are hard to measure and that informal forex flows and unauthorised foreign payment gateways are blind spots. CBSL said premiums have narrowed, invited money-transfer operators to register and said investigations into illegal payment gateway use are under way.

Government extends the deadline for submissions to the MRIA investment EOI process to 9 July (EOI documents open until 8 July). Proposals must remain valid for 120 days (until 5 Nov) and guarantees for 150 days (until 5 Dec).

NH Bentota Ceysands Resort is enhancing its coastal hospitality under General Manager Anil Chavan, who brings over 22 years of industry experience. The 165-room resort highlights dining, water sports, family facilities and event hosting to strengthen its leisure offering.

The Sri Lanka–Thailand Business Council marks its 25th anniversary with a celebration on 19 June at the Kingsbury Hotel and a 25-member delegation from the Board of Trade Thailand in attendance. The council highlights opportunities for trade and investment across tourism, IT/digital, renewable energy and healthcare.

The Sri Lanka Business Council UAE held a 35th-anniversary investment forum in Dubai on 11 June that drew 225 UAE business leaders and investors. Colombo Port City presented investment opportunities and speakers encouraged investment in tourism, hospitality, IT, logistics, manufacturing and renewable energy in Sri Lanka.

A seminar on recent mid-year tax reforms will be held on 24 June 2026 at Cinnamon Lakeside, covering increases to CGT, criminalisation of tax offences, new income tax calculations, expanded CGIR powers, digital VAT and lower VAT/SSCL thresholds. It is targeted at hotel management, banking/finance compliance and tax professionals.

Government and JICA aim to restart construction of Bandaranaike International Airport Terminal 2 by November after high-level talks to finalise loan allocation and contract value. JICA says the terminal could be completed within 30 months after work resumes and Finance Ministry approval for additional loan is being sought.

ADB announced a $4 billion financing package to help 15 countries, with Sri Lanka first to receive $100m, to mitigate economic fallout from the Middle East conflict. The package includes about $3bn in government-requested support and $1bn for trade finance, raising Sri Lanka's planned 2026 ADB budget support to $480m.

Bollywood stars Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Aditya Roy Kapur and Jacqueline Fernandez arrived in Colombo to headline the launch of Home Lands Group’s 'Central Park Boulevard Port City' at Cinnamon Life/City of Dreams.

Lakarcade won the 2026 Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award, placing the Colombo-based gift and souvenir retailer in the top 10% of attractions and hospitality businesses worldwide. The recognition, based on traveller reviews, underscores its appeal to international visitors and shoppers.

ADB is providing $4 billion in rapid financing — about $3 billion requested by governments and $1 billion in trade finance — to help countries, including Sri Lanka, withstand fallout from the Middle East conflict. Support includes policy-based loans, trade finance for energy and food imports, and rapid repurposing of existing funds.

ADB is deploying $4 billion to help countries including Sri Lanka manage impacts from the West Asia conflict, with about $3 billion requested by governments and $1 billion for trade finance for energy and food imports. Support includes policy-based loans, countercyclical financing, rapid repurposing of portfolios and emergency assistance.

SAARC CCI President Chandi Raj Dhakal met Yunnan Governor Wang Yubo in Kunming to push for expanded trade, investment and connectivity between South Asia and Yunnan, highlighting opportunities in infrastructure, tourism, logistics, digital industries, renewable energy, agriculture and manufacturing.

Food Studio has opened a five-brand line-up (Primo, Hotel Manoli, Bamboo Boy, Wide Eyes, Kimono) at Colombo City Centre’s Dining Gallery to expand its dining portfolio and support CCC as a retail and visitor destination. The launch aims to diversify offerings and build scalable F&B concepts.

NH Collection Colombo highlights its dining offerings led by Executive Chef Priyantha Vithanage, featuring AYU (all-day dining), Thai Rasa, Adityaa (Indian cuisine), Vistas Rooftop Bar, Collections café and Mansion lounge for varied dining experiences in Colombo.

John Keells Hotels PLC's Cinnamon Hotels (Cinnamon Grand Colombo) is hosting a Greek culinary showcase with Chef Theo Michaels in partnership with Classic Travel, running at The London Grill until 14 June 2026.

The Cabinet approved Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya as Chairman of SriLankan Airlines' Strategy and Restructuring Committee to lead the carrier’s strategic direction and restructuring aimed at improving its operational and financial performance.

CG Corp Global chairman Binod Chaudhary highlighted the group's Sri Lanka footprint, noting it holds a majority stake in Union Bank of Colombo and operates multiple hospitality properties including the Taj Samudra. He also cited a BYD agency partnership with John Keells and a cement feasibility study.

The India–Sri Lanka Binational Bridge and Tunnel proposal — a ~23 km link estimated to cost US$3.6–5.19bn — could lift tourism by 50–70% and cut some transport costs by up to 50%, reshaping trade, logistics and connectivity. Sri Lanka has paused advancement over technical, environmental and sovereignty concerns.

The CBSL cut the mandatory conversion period for export proceeds from 90 days to 30 days, and the rupee strengthened to about Rs. 332.25/333.00 from Rs. 337.00/337.75. The move is intended to accelerate repatriation of export earnings and boost foreign-exchange liquidity to stabilise the market.

Emirates was named ‘Best Overall Airline in the Middle East’ at the 2026 APEX Best in Airline Awards, based on over one million passenger ratings across five pillars including seat comfort, cabin service, food & beverage, entertainment and connectivity.

SriLankan Airlines has formed partnerships with Saudia and Flynas to expand connectivity between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka, adding access to 7 international + 13 domestic Saudia destinations and 8 international + 6 domestic Flynas destinations. Passengers can connect via Riyadh and Dammam onto daily SriLankan services to Colombo.