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.
Fairfirst Insurance was named Best Marine Insurance Company in Sri Lanka 2026 at the World Business Outlook Awards, recognising its marine insurance capabilities for cargo transported by sea, air and land and its underwriting and claims expertise.
Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC (PABC.N0000) has launched Pan Asia EZY, a next-generation mobile banking platform that integrates everyday banking, payments and selected financial services. Features include account management, interbank transfers via JustPay, pawning and fixed-deposit servicing, GovPay payments, eKYC onboarding and Central Bank-compliant security.
Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC (SDF) was ranked No.1 among Category 3 listed finance companies for Q1 2026/27 by K Seeds Investments, reporting revenue of Rs.1.92 billion (+44.4% YoY) and profit of Rs.201.44 million (+57.3% YoY) with assets of ~Rs.38.8 billion.
Cargills Bank recognised 60 credit cardholders on 16 September as winners of its inaugural 12th Anniversary Spend Campaign; winners may spend up to allocated reward values between 15 Sep and 15 Oct 2026 and will receive reimbursements credited to their card accounts at end‑Oct 2026.
Lanka Aluminium Industries PLC opened its 10th fully owned retail outlet in Nagoda, Kalutara, expanding its islandwide sales and service presence; the outlet stocks aluminium extrusions, accessories and offers technical services, with more outlets planned.
The Export Development Board organised Sri Lanka's first national pavilion at Fine Food Australia 2026 (31 Aug-3 Sep), a 90 sqm exhibit that brought 12 Sri Lankan food and beverage exporters to showcase tea, spices, coconut products, seafood and processed foods to Australian buyers to boost exports and market access.
Colombo Stock Exchange indices traded higher on Tuesday morning: ASPI +0.09% to 20,997.61 and S&P SL20 +0.27% to 5,925.55. Top contributors were HNB (+1.65), CCS (+1.27) and SLTL (+2.16); laggards included COMB (-0.25), HAYL (-0.67) and DIST (-0.38). Market turnover was Rs.114.4m, led by Consumer Durables & Apparel (Rs.37.5m).
International Distillers Limited (IDL) was re-certified as a Great Place to Work and won the Overall Winner title at the Great HR Quiz 2026, recognising its HR practices, people-focused culture and talent across the group.
Sri Lanka's National Consumer Price Index rose 8.1% year-on-year in August 2026, up from 7.2% in July, with the NCPI index rising 0.2% month-on-month to 223.9. Food inflation increased to 6.6% (from 4.9%) and non-food inflation to 9.3% (from 9.2%).
Foreign investors sold a net 7,302 million rupees of Sri Lanka rupee bonds in the week to Sept 18, the first weekly net outflow in 14 weeks, amid rupee depreciation. The outflows cut foreign holdings in government securities to 206.1 billion rupees; the rupee is down 6.7% YTD and the Central Bank raised policy rates by 100bps in May.
Sri Lanka's rupee closed at 330.75/90 to the US dollar on Monday, slightly firmer than the prior day's 330.75/331.25. Government bond yields were largely flat, with selected maturities quoted between 9.85% and 12.00%.
Resus Energy Plc (HPWR.N0000) commissioned a 2MW solar power plant in Damana, Ampara, with commercial operations starting on September 18; the plant is expected to supply about 3.5 GWh annually to the national grid. Shares closed at Rs 8.70, down 1.14%.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce met the IMF's 7th Review Mission urging stronger support for SMEs, accelerated digitalisation and policies to attract investment, and recommended fast-tracking renewable energy to the grid, easing logistics and measures to boost exports.
The Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation and the Export Development Board held a high-level meeting on 15 Sep 2026 to discuss implementing the NEDP 2026-2030, focusing on strengthening ports and logistics to raise exports to US$36 billion by 2030 and improve trade facilitation and connectivity.
IMF research shows educated youth unemployment in Sri Lanka (ages 15-24 with advanced/postsecondary education) has reached 43%, the highest in the region. The IMF cites a mismatch between university qualifications and employer needs and warns rapid AI adoption could further reduce entry-level roles amid ongoing economic shocks.
Softlogic Finance (CRL) plans to raise Rs1.002 billion via a rights issue of 401,072,162 new ordinary voting shares at Rs2.50 each (5 new shares for every 12 existing) to strengthen Tier-1 capital and expand vehicle financing; issue pending regulator and shareholder approval.
The IEA forecasts global coal demand will rise 1.2% to a record 8.94 billion tonnes in 2026, driven by higher natural gas prices after reduced LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz and stronger cooling demand from El Niño; China (~5.0bn t) and India (1.353bn t) account for most of the increase.
Sri Lanka's rupee was quoted at 331.00/25 to the US dollar on Monday (from 330.75/331.25 on Friday); government bond yields eased, with the 01.08.2030 at ~11.15-11.20% and the 15.10.2034 at ~11.90-12.00%, amid softer oil prices.
Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings said its debenture sale to raise up to 5.0 billion rupees was oversubscribed, receiving applications totalling 5.65445 billion rupees. Type A 5-year debentures at 13.00% drew 5.02 billion and Type B 5-year at 12.60% drew 628.52 million; demand for 7-year tenors was modest.
Real GDP fell 17.1% quarter-on-quarter to Rs 3,029,816 million in 2Q26 from an estimated Rs 3,652,503 million in 1Q26, but the drop mirrors a recurring seasonal pattern rather than a within-year loss of momentum. Year-on-year growth eased from 5.1% in 1Q26 to 4.2% in 2Q26.
People's Leasing & Finance PLC received CSE approval in principle to list a Rs.10 billion subordinated unsecured five-year debenture issue (initial 50m units, 13.75% p.a.; option for additional 50m if oversubscribed); subscription opens Wednesday. Fitch rated the debentures 'BBB+(lka)' and PLC's issuer rating is 'A(lka)'; proceeds will bolster Tier-2 capital.
Sri Lanka's tourism earnings rose 2.1% YoY in August to $264.4m, breaking a 10-month decline. Year-to-August revenue fell 10% YoY to $2.06bn and remains about 30% below August 2018 levels, with SLTDA methodology revisions complicating comparisons as a $4.2bn 2026 target looms.
Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC's debenture issue drew applications of Rs.5,654 million against a maximum Rs.5,000 million (about 13% oversubscribed). Five- and seven-year debentures were offered with effective yields of 13% and 13.15% respectively, with the Type A five-year drawing Rs.5,021m.
UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche said the combined El Niño and Indian Ocean Dipole effects on Sri Lanka remain highly uncertain and urged district-level preparedness, flagging about 15-16 of 25 districts as priorities. He said the UN and FAO have prepared a detailed scenarios paper and recommended localised flood- and drought-prevention measures and clearer planting guidance.
SAPPTA chairman Ryan Rambukwella urged Sri Lanka's spices industry to target $1 billion in exports, saying that will require shifting from commodity trading to value addition, branding, improved traceability, financing and mechanisation. He also proposed examining controlled imports of raw materials for re‑export.
Investigators say alleged Aswesuma welfare fraud at the Norwood Divisional Secretariat could total about Rs. 30 million, affecting around 100 families. About 20 state employees are implicated (10 dismissed) and two arrested and remanded; an audit is ongoing.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the government expects to provide a subsidy to cushion a likely fuel price increase from 1 October. He said global market prices indicate fuel prices would need to rise under the existing pricing formula, and the government will consider assistance to ease the burden.
Commercial High Court ordered Samin Attanayake to repay Rs.9,400,788.57 to Spark Air Engineering and directed the company to record Rs.19.553 million as a liability of his son, Thisen Semal Attanayake, for recovery within six months. The court found directors failed to prevent the misappropriation and awarded legal costs.