News & market updates

Fems debuted its #WATCHME fashion-led initiative on 16 July at CCWE Fashion Week and extended it into public spaces at Havelock City Mall, using runway looks and message cards to challenge menstrual myths and raise awareness of menstrual health in Sri Lanka.

Janashakthi Insurance PLC (Janashakthi Life) was named among Sri Lanka's 50 Best Workplaces™ for 2026 by Great Place To Work® Sri Lanka in the Medium category (251-500 employees). The recognition follows its Great Place To Work® Certified status and an 88% Employee Trust Index™ score in 2025.

GoodWe and the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority hosted the Solar + Storage Forum 2026 in Colombo, drawing over 400 attendees and showcasing GoodWe's residential, C&I and utility storage solutions. Government and industry speakers highlighted energy storage as critical to Sri Lanka's target of 70% renewable electricity by 2030.

Swadeshi Industrial Works PLC is sponsoring the illumination ('Swadeshi Khomba Aloka Puja Sathkaraya') of Kiri Vehera and Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya for the 25th consecutive year (July 15-29, 2026). The company also provided educational tablets to local schoolchildren and carried out related cultural CSR activities.

The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Milan and partners held a Business Forum on 9 July to promote Sri Lanka Expo 2027 and present trade and investment opportunities to the Italian business community. Government speakers highlighted investor-friendly policy reforms and Sri Lanka's manufacturing/export strengths.

3Rive Technologies has become an official partner in Anthropic's Claude Partner Network, embedding Claude across its engineering, delivery and back-office functions. Headquartered in Australia with an AI development centre in Sri Lanka, it will host public Claude workshops in Colombo to grow the local builder ecosystem.

Intex-InMac Sri Lanka 2026 will run at BMICH, Colombo from 5-7 August 2026, featuring 250+ exhibitors and an InMac technology showcase of garment machinery, AI-enabled systems and factory automation to drive textile sourcing, exports and manufacturing productivity.

A Colombo magistrate rejected bail for the owner of a prominent garment retail store accused of breaching the Customs Ordinance by importing goods worth over Rs. 1 million and remanded the suspect until 6 August; the court dismissed the defence's objection to the complaint.

Imperial College of Business Studies (ICBS) hosted the Imperial College Academic Summit 2026, focusing on emerging trends in higher education such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, industry integration and international partnerships. Speakers emphasised investment in academic quality, new programmes and graduate employability.

Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism signed a strategic agreement with Swiss wealth manager Julius Baer to mobilise its global network and attract international investors, business owners and family offices to establish and expand in Dubai. Julius Baer, with CHF 547bn AUM and more than 60 locations, will support Dubai's push to grow its private-wealth ecosystem under the D33 agenda.

The CSE opened higher with the ASPI up 0.07% at 21,187.22 and the S&P SL20 up 0.10% at 5,948.74; market turnover exceeded Rs.2bn and foreigners were net buyers (Rs.15.7m). John Keells, Hayleys and HNB were key contributors while capital goods and banking led turnover.

Blackstone plans to open an office in Kuwait in Q3 via the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) to strengthen its GCC presence and says additional regional offices will be announced over the coming year.

People's Bank has relocated its Vaharai Service Centre, now operating under the People's Bank Valaichenai Branch, offering improved facilities and a range of services including digital banking solutions, business, SME and development loans; the move was inaugurated by senior bank and local officials.

People's Bank has enabled UnionPay acquiring across its full network of more than 14,000 POS terminals, allowing merchants nationwide to accept UnionPay cards issued in over 80 markets. The upgrade was automatic for existing terminals, needing no new hardware or merchant agreements, with settlement and disputes handled centrally.

Fintrex Finance PLC has appointed Udesh Gunawardena as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Gunawardena brings over 25 years' experience in financial services, governance, risk management, treasury and senior leadership roles, including COO and acting CEO positions and international CFO experience.

Global Sri Lankan Kumara Kumariya finale will be held on July 31 at the Ramadia Grand Hotel, Moratuwa. The pageant, endorsed by Sri Lanka Tourism and sponsored by Kandy Spices Agro, promotes Sri Lankan culture and tourism and offers prizes worth over Rs. 1 million plus return tickets to Thailand for top winners.

Talawakelle Tea Estates' Somerset estate sold a single lot for Rs. 3,050/kg in March 2025, the highest price for the region. The estate also generated 3,622,254 kWh from its 1,100 kW hydro plant in FY2025/26 and has introduced digital weighing, cloud monitoring and drone fertiliser use.

The Surveyors' Institute of Sri Lanka will celebrate its centennial on 2 August 2026, marking 100 years of service to surveying, mapping and land administration. The institute says it will continue promoting digitalisation and geospatial technologies to improve land administration and support national development.

AA3 Holdings Ltd opened a state-of-the-art showroom and fully equipped workshop in Kiribathgoda, housing what it says is Sri Lanka's largest ex-stock inventory of heavy construction equipment to speed customer access and strengthen after-sales support and servicing.

Provider.lk launched Sri Lanka's first native AI Website Builder, enabling users to create and edit professional websites via a conversational chat interface in under 10 minutes. The platform is live and includes a limited-time offer of six months free with a new annual .lk or .com domain.

DFCC Bank has launched Sri Lanka's first ATMs and cash recycler machines offering transactions in eight languages, now live at Bandaranaike International Airport and DFCC outlets in Hiriketiya, Ella and Arugam Bay, with a wider countrywide rollout planned.

SriLankan Airlines signed an interline agreement with Island Aviation Services (Maldivian) to enable single e-ticket travel to 17 Maldivian domestic destinations via Velana (Malé) and Gan airports. SriLankan continues three daily frequencies to Velana and two weekly to Gan, improving regional connectivity.

The Court of Appeal dismissed two writ applications against Pentara Residencies, the Home Lands Group apartment project in Thummulla, Colombo 5, finding the UDA approvals complied with the Development Plan and rejecting the petitioners' challenges.

Total vehicle registrations declined 7.4% to 58,151 units in June, while SUV and crossover registrations rose to 5,933 units and were the strongest passenger segment. Brand-new car registrations fell to 998 (BYD 519), pre-owned to 2,931, and premium imports remain a notable source of government revenue.

Colombo Stock Exchange midday: ASPI rose 0.56% to 21,306.64, led by gains in Colombo Dockyard, Dialog Axiata, Melstacorp, PGP Glass, Commercial Bank and Kelani Cables while Vidullanka fell. R I L Property disclosed public shareholding is 46.1071% after prior miscalculations.

The Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026 will convene government, policymakers, businesses, investors and international experts in Colombo on Oct 12-13 to discuss the country's economic outlook, reform agenda and investment and export opportunities.

Sanasa Development Bank (SDB) opened a new Business Centre at 167, Union Place, Colombo 02 to expand its corporate and business banking presence. The centre will target corporate, institutional and mass-affluent clients with tailored lending, deposit, money-market and digital banking solutions.

Jetwing Hotels had 24 properties recognised in Tripadvisor's 2026 Travellers' Choice Awards, the most honours for any Sri Lankan hotel group, with Mermaid Hotel and Club named 'Best of the Best' (top 1%).

Agro Green Harvest Cultivation (Pvt) Ltd won the Platinum Excellence in Agricultural Impact & Rural Development Award on 5 April 2026, recognising its contributions to sustainable agriculture and rural empowerment. The company operates across coconut husk chips, crop cultivation, compost, livestock and exports fruits, vegetables and spices.