News & market updates
A market brief each morning, plus company filings and news from across Sri Lanka's stock market. Filter by company, sector and theme, and use sentiment badges to quickly identify Positive or Negative news.
A market brief each morning, plus company filings and news from across Sri Lanka's stock market. Filter by company, sector and theme, and use sentiment badges to quickly identify Positive or Negative news.
Australian shares slid to a more-than-three-month low as the S&P/ASX 200 fell about 1.2% to 8,658.10 after crude oil surged nearly 4%, reviving inflation worries and boosting the prospect of further Reserve Bank rate hikes.
IMF recommended Sri Lanka retain its 5% inflation target and current accountability band at the first statutory review. It said a lower target could be considered at the next review once low, stable inflation is established, while the CBSL warned a 2% target would require sharply tighter policy and higher rates.
IMF says Sri Lanka remains on track to return to international capital markets in 2027. IMF Mission Chief Evan Papageorgiou, after the Seventh Review of the $3bn EFF, welcomed Fitch's upgrade and said earlier assumptions about market access, including the original plan to raise $1.5bn in 2027, still hold.
Sri Lanka's total exports surpassed $12.0bn in Jan-Aug 2026, up 4.26% YoY. Merchandise exports rose 3.63% to $9.41bn and services grew 6.59% to $2.6bn; August exports were $1.601bn (+1.77%), with services up 13.97%.
Ceylon Chamber welcomed Fitch's upgrade of Sri Lanka's long‑term foreign‑currency rating to B- (Stable) and urged trade‑facilitation, digital and labour reforms to build on the gain. It also called for sustained primary surpluses, revenue mobilisation, lower debt‑service ratios and stronger foreign‑exchange reserves to attract investment.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) urged all parties to allow MPs to speak and vote according to conscience on the 22nd Amendment after the Supreme Court determined it does not require a referendum; Parliament will vote today (24). BASL warned of lack of transparency and cited objections from religious leaders, professional bodies and the UN Special Rapporteur.
People's Leasing & Finance PLC said its debenture issue closed oversubscribed after receiving applications for over Rs.10 billion; the company had offered an initial Rs.5 billion (50 million debentures) with the option to raise up to Rs.10 billion and will notify the basis of allotment to the CSE.
MP Namal Rajapaksa was further remanded until 30 September by the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court in a money‑laundering probe linked to SriLankan Airlines' purchase of Airbus aircraft; the court deferred a bail ruling pending prosecution clarifications on parallel investigations and a CIABOC certificate.
Lanka Rating Agency upgraded PMF Finance PLC's long-term entity credit rating to BB (Stable). LRA cited stronger profitability, improved asset quality and adequate capitalisation, NII rose ~49% to Rs.2.91bn in FY26, PAT was Rs.368.4m and CAR stood at 17.38%.
Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka set a timeline for the SL2026-01 offshore oil and gas licensing round, aiming to close bids by Feb-Mar 2027 and finalise licences by end‑2027; bidders face a signature bonus of about US$5,000. The round offers four Mannar Basin blocks (~34,000 sq km) and targets commercial production by 2032.
Parliament approved a Rs. 17.2 billion supplementary estimate for the Ministry of Energy to provide electricity-bill relief. The funds were reallocated from line ministries unlikely to use them and will not change the overall expenditure ceiling or government borrowing limit; Parliament also passed the Promotion of Export Agriculture (Amendment) Bill updating the definition of notified export crops.
At the weekly Treasury Bill auction, weighted average yields rose for a second week-91-day 9.20% (+2bp), 182-day 9.37% (+1bp) and 364-day 9.93% (+5bp)-with the PDMO raising the full Rs.60 billion offered. Secondary bond-market yields extended a rally supported by a sovereign rating upgrade and IMF assessment, and net liquidity surplus stood at Rs.148.87 billion following central bank repo operations.
Abanchy Ceylon Ltd (the logistics arm of Pink Eagle Holdings) incorporated Abanchy Africa Ltd in Kenya to establish a full-service logistics and freight‑forwarding base serving Kenya and wider East Africa. The new unit will offer sea and air freight, customs clearance, transport and warehousing as part of the group's African expansion.
Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC will allot 37.5 million of the 50 million debentures (75%) to identified preferential investors in its oversubscribed Rs.5 billion issue; the remaining 12.5 million debentures will be allocated to other investors under stated pro rata rules.
Cargills Bank has selected Intellect Design Arena's Composable eMACH.ai Core Banking Architecture to expand and modernise digital banking across Core Banking, Lending, Trade Finance and Treasury, aiming to improve agility, customer experience and product innovation.
Colombo Stock Exchange closed marginally down with the ASPI slipping 0.09% to 21,066.89 on turnover of Rs1.31bn. Institutional crossings supported positions in PickMe, Access Engineering, Dipped Products and Sampath Bank, while Harischandra Mills appointed a new chair effective Sep 23, 2026.
Colombo Stock Exchange closed marginally down, the ASPI fell 0.09% to 21,066.89 with market turnover at Rs1.31 billion. Institutional crossings were seen in PickMe, Access Engineering, Dipped Products and Sampath Bank; notable contributors included Carson Cumberbatch, Commercial Bank, Hayleys and Lion Brewery, and Harischandra Mills appointed a new chairperson.
Janashakthi Limited's JXG Spotlight won a Silver Award (Best Use of Digital in Corporate Branding) and a Bronze Award (Best Use of Creative Content) at SLIM DIGIS 2.6; the group's JXG YouTube channel has surpassed 300,000 subscribers.
Zirateh won three awards (Silver, Bronze and Finalist) at the SLIM Digis in its first submission, becoming the most awarded agency in the Automotive category. The agency highlights work for clients including Jetour, UFS Lanka and TATA PV and offers a one-million-organic-views-in-90-days guarantee.
PickMe will provide QR e-tickets via PickMe Explore and a dedicated Gate 3 pickup area (up to 10 vehicles), plus a free Borella-BMICH shuttle and a 15% ride discount for visitors to the Colombo International Book Fair (25 Sept-4 Oct).
Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General Limited (SLIC General) appointed Mr. Asiri Wickramarachchi FCII as Acting Chief Executive Officer effective 21 September 2026. He previously served as Chief Officer-General Insurance at SLIC General and has over 19 years' insurance experience.
GS1 Lanka used its AGM to drive Sri Lanka's transition to 2D barcodes (QR/Data Matrix) under the global GS1 Sunrise 2027 initiative, urging brands, retailers and healthcare providers to prepare and launching a new retail information platform. GS1 Lanka reports 5,500+ members and over 20,000 product records on its platforms.
Hayleys PLC's Hayleys Solar completed 1,300 kWp of solar installations across three hotels, Golden Star Beach Hotel (240 kWp), Tangerine Beach Hotel (780.57 kWp) and DoubleTree by Hilton Weerawila (280.25 kWp), expected to cut about 1,356 tonnes of CO2 annually.
FITIS will hold Sri Lanka Digital Day 2026 in Colombo on 6 November 2026 (concurrent with INFOTEL 6-8 Nov), convening policymakers, technology leaders and businesses to discuss national digital strategy, SME digital adoption and digitalisation in banking and finance.
Sterling Automobiles Lanka (Pvt) Ltd opened a dedicated Sterling Aftercare Collision Repair and Body Shop facility in Rathmalana, offering full structural accident repairs, cosmetic body fixes, painting and refinishing for all makes and models and a streamlined, documented repair workflow for motorists, fleets and insurers.
Ceylinco Life announced A.I.P. Manjula of its Ambalantota branch was one of three global finalists for the Insurance Agent of the Year award at the 11th ATLAA 2026, bringing regional recognition to the company's agency force.
Mintpay has partnered with the Curtin Colombo Student Guild to distribute Mintpay Vouchers at selected campus events, allowing students to redeem vouchers (digital or physical QR) across more than 3,000 island-wide merchants. The vouchers can be used across multiple purchases, combined with merchant offers, and earn cashback in Mint Coins.