News & market updates

INSEE Lanka will be the Corporate Sponsor of the Build Sri Lanka Housing & Construction Exhibition 2026, held 22–24 May 2026 at BMICH. The company will showcase its cement, mortar and ready-mix solutions and promote sustainability and innovation initiatives to industry stakeholders.

Delight Trust Engineering (Pvt) Ltd was recognised with the Platinum Excellence in Engineering Services & Operational Reliability Award at the Platinum Excellence Awards 2026. The company provides construction and interior solutions including fit-outs, aluminium/glass works and customised furniture for commercial and banking clients.

Hayleys (via Hayleys Fentons) signed a JV with Jyoti Structures to build the Mannar–Mullikulam 220kV double-circuit transmission line, the inaugural NTNSP contract to evacuate Mullikulam wind power to the national grid. The project will support renewable integration and expands Hayleys Fentons into infrastructure.

Energy Ministry and the BOI issued an RFI on 23 April 2026 inviting domestic and international investors to develop green hydrogen and green ammonia projects in Sri Lanka, targeting $1 billion in annual export revenue by 2030. The non-binding RFI (open to 5 June 2026) covers production, storage, export terminals and component manufacturing and notes potential BOI facilitation and incentives.

The government is considering ending the odd-even fuel distribution system and increasing fuel quotas, saying fuel stocks are sufficient until August 2026 and supplies are being secured for the rest of the year. Officials also discussed appointing Energy Managers, boosting renewable energy and introducing Green Building measures under the Clean Sri Lanka program.

The Sri Lankan rupee has fallen more than 5% so far this year, risking higher inflation and possible monetary tightening that would raise borrowing costs; rising import, fuel and medicine prices threaten household purchasing power and could drag on growth.

Prime Lands Residencies PLC has officially handed over 43 by the Sea, a sold-out ground plus 12-storey residential development on Marine Drive, Colombo; construction is complete, transfer deeds are ready and homeowners have taken possession.

Vidullanka PLC will buy a 49% stake in Storex for around 2 billion rupees to acquire a portfolio of 12 CEB‑awarded 10MW/40MWh BESS projects; WindForce holds the remaining 51% and Storex has regulatory approvals and financial closure.

Prime Melwa Port City Ltd signed a Sales and Purchase Agreement with CHEC Port City Colombo Ltd to develop the final marina-front residential waterfront project in Port City Colombo. The luxury development is inside Port City's foreign-currency Special Economic Zone and targets international buyers and investors.

Home Lands Group signed an SPA with CHEC Port City Colombo to develop a $150m twin-tower high-rise in Port City's Central Park District, part of a project valued at over $300m and expected to attract significant foreign currency inflows. The development will offer over 600 ultra-luxury residential, commercial and recreational units.

Cabinet approved a Rs.1,000 million 'Vari Mahima – Ape Urumaya' programme to rehabilitate and modernise small-scale village irrigation systems nationwide. The initiative targets siltation, structural damage and reduced water-use efficiency to boost rural water security and agricultural productivity.

Cabinet approved about Rs.112.44 billion in Treasury-funded contracts for Central Expressway Phase II, awarding Access Engineering a Rs.18.7 billion package. Seven local contractors won packages covering 18.65 km of the expressway, fully government-financed.

The Sri Lankan government has launched a fresh investor drive for Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, inviting EOIs for airside operations and landside commercial development across cargo, logistics, MRO, industrial parks, renewable energy and hospitality; EOI documents are available until 8 June with a briefing and site visit scheduled for 22 May.

Home Lands Port City signed an SPA with CHEC Port City to develop an iconic twin-tower high-rise in Port City Colombo, with Home Lands investing US$150 million in a total project valued at over US$300 million.

Cabinet approved leasing a prime one-acre state-owned parcel in Kottawa for 99 years to a private investor for a mixed-use development and has called for investment proposals under government procurement rules. The site was previously transferred to the Urban Development Authority.

ANC Campus hosted a dialogue with Hayleys' executive director and Janashakthi's CEO on geopolitical risks and private-sector resilience; the University of West England will open its first Sri Lanka branch campus in June. Speakers urged firms to adopt AI, diversify exports and streamline approvals to attract investment.

Sri Lanka Expo 2026 has been rescheduled to 14–17 January 2027 at BMICH in Colombo. The EDB expects about 750 local exporters and 1,500 international participants and has extended exhibitor registration to 31 July 2026, citing geopolitical uncertainties.

Vietnam President To Lam made a four-day state visit to China and rode China's high-speed rail, including a 2,400 km Beijing–Nanjing trip, highlighting plans for China-assisted high-speed rail in Vietnam. The article urges Sri Lanka to use BRI technical know‑how to rebuild and modernize its rail network to boost connectivity.

Prime Melwa Port City (Pvt) Ltd signed a Sales and Purchase Agreement with CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd on 12 May 2026 to develop the only remaining marina and waterfront residential project in Port City Colombo. The development is positioned as a luxury marina-front landmark within the Port City's foreign-currency Special Economic Zone.

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Ports & Civil Aviation has launched an EOI drive (27 Apr–8 Jun 2026) to attract local and foreign investors to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport for airside and landside opportunities covering cargo, MRO, logistics, industrial parks, renewable energy and resort/hospitality projects.

Government will amend the National Environmental Act to introduce pollutant-based (load-based) charging, stricter industrial approvals, legally binding Environmental Management Plans and mandatory pre-project environmental clearances. The changes target manufacturing, energy, construction and chemicals firms and include fines and up to two years' imprisonment for non-compliance.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed marginally higher, ASPI up 0.02% at 23,015.32 with turnover of Rs.3.66 billion. Real estate and transportation led turnover (Rs.495.2m and Rs.485.2m) and Abans Finance listed Rs.1.34bn five-year debentures; its shares rose 3.47%.

Sri Lankan Australian business networks — exemplified by Arjuna (Arj) Samarakoon — are helping connect Australia, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, supporting market entry, trade and investment, illustrated by his meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.

LANKATILES opened its 60th showroom in Borella (No. 85, Dr. N.M. Perera Mawatha, Colombo 08), expanding its retail presence to serve homeowners, architects and developers in a key urban corridor.

Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will host a one-day Mineral Sands Technical Conference on 17 June at the Galle Face Hotel, bringing Australian and international experts to discuss moving Sri Lanka's mineral sands from resource availability to sustained value creation.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board has rescheduled Sri Lanka Expo to 14–17 January 2027 at BMICH citing geopolitical uncertainty. The event is expected to host about 750 local exporters and 1,500 international participants across apparel, tea, ICT, pharma, renewable energy and other sectors.

John Keells Holdings chair Krishan Balendra will lead a 19-member Sri Lankan corporate delegation to Mumbai for the India–Sri Lanka Business Forum on 13 May to engage Indian counterparts on trade, investment and partnerships. Sri Lanka and India have also discussed a proposed $450m post-conflict reconstruction package.

Sri Lanka recorded a primary surplus of Rs. 545.42 billion in Jan-Feb 2026 (up 66% YoY) and an overall Budget surplus of Rs. 169.71 billion, with revenues rising 35.5% to Rs. 1.03 trillion while expenditure growth was contained at 1.6%.