News & market updates

The US will withdraw from the Colombo Plan and cease participation or funding under a White House memorandum directing agencies to exit specified international organisations. Outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung is the Colombo Plan Council's 79th President.

India will disburse about US$350m (of a US$450m package) to Sri Lanka denominated in Indian rupees, including US$100m in grants, to fund cyclone recovery — rebuilding roads, bridges and rail, housing, health, education and agriculture.

IIHS Multiversity launched the “Local Study · Global Degree” model, positioning itself as Sri Lanka’s Global Health University to deliver internationally aligned health and related degrees locally. It also created structured sub-brands (Nursing, Physio, BioMed, Digital Health, etc.) and emphasizes global partnerships and mobility.

LAUGFS Life Sciences partnered with the Medical Research Institute to launch Sri Lanka’s first public allergy-awareness wristbands to record drug sensitivities and improve emergency patient safety.

Sevalanka Foundation, funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation, launched a relief programme in Biyagama to restore safe water and healthcare after Cyclone Ditwah, donating water pumps and rehabilitating wells and public facilities. The project supports MOH-run clinics with sanitization, emergency medical supplies and medical camps, and distributes hygiene, nutrition and household relief packs to vulnerable groups.

The Overseas School of Colombo raised Rs. 1.1 million for the Colombo Friend-in-Need Society at the SAISA Swimming Meet, funding 22 prosthetic limbs. Funds were raised via a merchandise stall run by OSC's Gecko Gear Service Group over the three-day tournament.

Ceylon Hospitals (Durdans) will seek shareholder approval to subdivide voting shares from 31,762,723 to 127,050,892 and non-voting shares from 10,133,765 to 40,535,060 (1-for-4); stated capital will remain at 1,778,802,331.50 rupees and the plan is pending regulatory approval.

Ceylon Hospitals (Durdens) will propose a 4-for-1 subdivision of both ordinary voting and non-voting shares, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. Voting shares would rise to 127,050,892 and non-voting to 40,535,060, with stated capital unchanged at Rs. 1,778,802,331.50.

CarePolicy.US served more than 1,700 providers nationwide and marked the milestone at its 2025 Gala Awards Night. The remote-first firm provides state-specific licensing and compliance support across all 50 U.S. states and is discussing multi-state growth and market-entry planning.

Melstacorp's Melsta Hospitals became Sri Lanka's first hospital to earn Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation under the 8th edition. The hospital says it will expand specialties, upgrade infrastructure and pursue medical tourism to attract international patients.

The Overseas School of Colombo raised LKR 1.1 million for the Colombo Friend-in-Need Society, funding 22 prosthetic limbs. Funds were collected via OSC’s Gecko Gear merchandise stall at the SAISA Swimming 2025 Meet.

Share split · 1:4 · XD Mar 5, 2026

Split issue

Dialog Axiata PLC committed LKR 420 million to the Government’s Rebuilding Sri Lanka initiative to support recovery after Cyclone Ditwah. The funds will help restore and upgrade critical hospital infrastructure and refurbish ICT facilities in over 20 cyclone-affected schools.

Sampath Bank (SAMP.N0000) signed an MoU with Link Natural Products on 26 Nov 2025 to partner under the Sampath Saviya agri-entrepreneurship programme to develop model medicinal-crop hubs, provide farmer training and ensure assured buyback markets for growers.

Associated Motorways (AMW) handed over relief packs to the Disaster Management Centre to assist 1,000 families affected by the Ditwah Cyclone, with each pack containing food, basic medication and daily necessities.

SLT-Mobitel restored over 98% of sites impacted by Cyclone Ditwah, mounting a nationwide connectivity recovery with estimated repair and upgrade costs of Rs. 5–6 billion. The company activated a central ‘War Room’, restored core SLBN nodes within 24 hours, deployed temporary FWA, prioritized hospitals and launched a 24/7 National Medical Helpline available to all networks.

UK bans adverts for less healthy food and drinks on TV before 9pm and online at all times, effective today; measures are projected to remove up to 7.2 billion calories/year and deliver £2 billion in long-term health benefits. The plan also extends the Soft Drinks Levy to sugary milk drinks, restricts fast-food outlets near schools, and bans high-caffeine energy drinks for under-16s.

Flash Health raised a $200,000 seed round led by nVentures to scale its cashless outpatient (Cashless OPD) platform. The startup highlighted partnerships with insurers including Union Assurance, Janashakthi Insurance and HNB Assurance and will use funds to deepen insurer integrations, expand homecare and medicine delivery.

Flash Health raised US $200,000 in a seed round led by nVentures to scale its cashless outpatient (Cashless OPD) platform in Sri Lanka. The startup partners with insurers including Union Assurance and Janashakthi Insurance to offer cashless consultations, medicine delivery, telemedicine and homecare services.

Sunshine Holdings PLC partnered with Great Place To Work, secured recurring GPTW Certification and was named one of Sri Lanka’s Best Workplaces 2024 after implementing initiatives that improved onboarding, retention, leadership communication and talent attraction, including in healthcare roles.

Cabinet approved continuation and expansion of the 'Suraksha' Student Insurance Program for 2025–26 under a new agreement with Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General Ltd., adding five critical illnesses and raising the low‑income parent death threshold to Rs.240,000. From 1 Sep 2025 claims can be submitted at any regional Sri Lanka Insurance office and benefits for devices/medication have been increased (e.g. Rs.75,000 for scoliosis braces, Rs.20,000 for long‑term medication).

Sunshine Holdings' Healthguard Distribution obtained ISO 9001:2015 and Good Distribution Practices (GDP) certifications for all seven of its regional distribution centres in Sri Lanka. The Bureau Veritas/UKAS-backed credentials validate its quality management and bolster its regulated island-wide pharmaceutical distribution (DaaS) capabilities.

Asiri Hospital Holdings (ASIR.N0000) partnered with the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) to support and pilot HealthTech startups, offering hospital environments, clinical feedback and commercial links to accelerate validation and scalable growth.

Sunshine Holdings PLC strengthened its workplace culture after partnering with Great Place To Work, earning recurring GPTW certification and being named one of Sri Lanka’s Best Workplaces in 2024. It launched onboarding reforms, a feedback platform, career clinics and other HR initiatives to improve retention and talent attraction.

Sunshine Holdings PLC (SUN) has been included in the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index, effective 22 December 2025 (after market close on 19 December 2025), reflecting its ~LKR70 billion market capitalisation and six‑month median daily value traded of LKR45.6 million which meets index thresholds.

Nihon Kohden Sri Lanka held a CPR and AED lifesaving training session for JICA Sri Lanka staff in partnership with Hemas Surgicals & Diagnostics and the Resuscitation Council; participants received certificates and Ministry of Health representatives attended.

Sri Lanka Insurance Life Ltd and Sri Lanka Insurance General Ltd inaugurated business operations for 2026 at the SLIC head office on 1 January and unveiled SLICGL’s 2026 theme, “Leading the market, strengthening every step.” The release highlights SLICGL’s 2025 achievements including an A+ Fitch rating, surpassing Rs.30bn in gross written premium, carbon neutral certification, cyclone relief claims handling and the Suraksha school insurance partnership covering 4.5 million children.

Port City Colombo has commissioned public utility connections to Colombo’s main grid and attracted over $1bn in land development investments as it moves into full commercial operations. Browns Investments PLC (part of the LOLC group) has broken ground on a $120m Luxury Marina with berthing for 200 vessels.

The Inland Revenue Department collected Rs. 2,203 billion in 2025, a record and Rs. 33 billion above the year's target. The department has set a Rs. 2,401 billion target for 2026 and plans measures including e-invoicing, third-party data sharing, stronger audits and tech upgrades to boost compliance.

Prime Group contributed LKR 200 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund to support recovery from Cyclone Ditwah. The group also donated three dialysis machines to Kegalle Hospital, will provide a radiation bunker to Apeksha Hospital, and supplied school kits to children of affected police officers.