News & market updates

Activ8 Asia launched "Project Mindfulness" and ran a two-hour Stress Management Workshop with Sri Lanka Sumithrayo to promote employee mental health and workplace wellbeing. The session included presentations, activities, a Q&A, optional befriending support, and distribution of stress balls and leaflets.

Tiesh partnered with the Infinite Grace Foundation to support mental health, addiction and prisoner rehabilitation, anti‑trafficking awareness and estate-community upliftment, and will donate all proceeds from an exclusive jewellery collection to the foundation.

Hayleys Lifesciences and Hemas (via Hemas Hospitals) joined a Sri Lankan delegation to MEDICA 2025 in Düsseldorf to seek partnerships, engage on regulatory standards and explore digital health and export opportunities.

BMH Hospitals and Med Connect Sri Lanka concluded the 13th consecutive Sri Lanka’s largest scoliosis awareness walkathon on 23 November to promote early screening and timely treatment for scoliosis. The event included a walk from Independence Square to J R Jayewardane Centre and an annual conference for families, schools and healthcare professionals.

World Bank economist Dr. Jonah Rexer warned Sri Lanka faces a "twin pressure" from AI and high trade protection that threatens job creation, noting ~20% of South Asia jobs are AI-exposed and Sri Lanka's generative AI adoption is ~10%. He said high tariffs on intermediate inputs raise production costs for textiles, apparel, electronics, pharmaceuticals and business services, limiting export-linked job growth.

eChannelling PLC won the Silver Award for Online Brand of the Year at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards 2025. The recognition highlights the company’s role in advancing digital healthcare and reinforces its brand credibility in Sri Lanka’s tech-enabled health sector.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon held a Pensioners' Day in Gampaha for more than 250 pensioners, offering health checks, information and on-site applications for its Pension Loan product. Asiri Hospital ran a free medical camp and presentations covered the bank's pensioner financial facilities and repayment terms to age 74.

Citrus Leisure PLC will sponsor a monthly celebratory buffet and hospitality experience for about 8–10 guests at Blue Orbit by Citrus under a one-year MoU with Indira Cancer Trust to support Make-A-Wish Sri Lanka. The initiative is intended to be renewed annually.

Speakers at an OPA seminar said the 2026 National Budget targets growth, development and debt sustainability through fiscal discipline, digitisation, export promotion and infrastructure spending. Panelists flagged positive fiscal trends but warned of weak real incomes, low employment, stalled reserves and monetary policy challenges.

The Sri Lanka–Canada Business Council led a trade and investment mission across Canada (28 Oct–14 Nov) that opened pathways for cooperation in tourism, agriculture, IT, finance, education and research, and explored an investment forum and diaspora-led initiatives including an OCSL visa discussion.

Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC has appointed Dr. U.D.P. Ratnasiri, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist with over 32 years' experience, as an Independent Non-Executive Director. He brings expertise in complex obstetric care and leadership roles in international professional bodies.

A Vietnamese embassy delegation visited Jaffna to promote economic, trade, investment and tourism linkages and explore cooperation in agribusiness, aquaculture, agro-processing, tourism, logistics, industrial zones and renewable energy.

Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the government will expand pharmaceutical price controls to cover 200 more medicines, after reinstating controls and reducing prices on 350 essential drugs (e.g. Paclitaxel 100mg cut from Rs.42,000 to Rs.26,332).

A Sri Lanka–Canada Business Council–led delegation completed a trade and investment mission in Canada (28 Oct–14 Nov 2025) to advance partnerships across agriculture, IT, finance, tourism and education. Discussions covered banking and insurance cooperation, agri‑tech and food security, medical tourism, an OCSL visa scheme and plans for investment forums and trade fairs.

Softlogic Life Insurance PLC reported Gross Written Premiums of Rs. 28.2 billion for the nine months to 30 Sep 2025, up 29% YoY, with PBT of Rs. 3.3 billion and PAT of Rs. 2.3 billion. The firm posted ROE of 24% and CAR of 298%, paid Rs. 13.5 billion in claims and completed the acquisition of Allianz Life Insurance Lanka.

Softlogic Life Insurance PLC reported GWP of Rs. 28.2bn for the nine months to 30 Sep 2025, up 29% y/y, with PBT Rs. 3.3bn, PAT Rs. 2.3bn, assets Rs. 59bn, equity Rs. 11.6bn, ROE 24% and CAR 298%. The company completed the acquisition of Allianz Life, paid Rs. 13.5bn in claims (98% settled within a day) and holds a 36% health insurance market share.

INSEE Cement ran annual medical camps at its Ruhunu and Puttalam plants and the Aruwakkaru quarry, providing essential healthcare services to more than 1,190 community members in collaboration with Asiri Hospital Galle and Digasiri Hospital Puttalam.

Union Assurance (UAL.N0000) released its Suwamaga Impact Report showing the CSR programme delivered free diabetes screenings to more than 23,000 people across all 25 districts, achieving 155% of its 15,000 target. The report found 76% of those referred for HbA1c were diabetic, nearly 3% were newly diagnosed and 71% reported positive behavioural change.

Central Bank of Sri Lanka has determined SGO/sgomine.com and 22 other companies/apps are prohibited schemes under Section 83(C) of the Banking Act.

Nufloe opened in Colombo in 2025 as Sri Lanka’s first fully equipped Balanced Body® Pilates studio, combining full-apparatus Pilates with in-house SLMC-registered physiotherapy for rehabilitation. The studio also launched a mobile app for bookings and class management.

The Sri Lanka High Commission and NPCI launched a pilot of UPI One World on 17 November 2025 to allow Sri Lankan Buddhist pilgrims to make secure, real-time payments in India without an Indian mobile number. The facility will also benefit Sri Lankans travelling to India for medical treatment.

Hatton National Bank won the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award 2025 at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce awards on 19 November. Multiple shortlisted firms were recognised across categories, including Commercial Bank, Hemas, Talawakelle, Elpitiya and Kelani Valley Plantations, Dilmah, Dipped Products, Haycarb, Hayleys, DFCC, Teejay Lanka, Singer and Softlogic Life Insurance.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon is launching a festive card promotion offering up to 70% discounts at over 642 merchant partners from 15 November to 31 December 2025. Cardholders also get Easy Payment Plans up to 60 months and call & convert installment options, plus premium-card exclusives.

International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS) opened admissions for the next intake of five flagship healthcare programmes. Programmes include Advanced Diplomas in General Nursing, Physiotherapy and Biomedical Sciences, a Foundation in Biological Sciences, and a Deakin University 1+2 Diploma pathway with international degree links.

IIHS's Kerawalapitiya and Welisara campuses now give Gampaha district students easier access to internationally accredited healthcare programmes, with admissions open. Programmes include Advanced Diplomas in General Nursing, Physiotherapy and Biomedical Sciences plus foundation and diploma pathways, with articulation agreements with Deakin University, University of Surrey and Metropolia.

Hatton National Bank won the 'Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award 2025' at the 22nd BCCS Awards. Listed companies from the shortlist recognised at the event include Commercial Bank, Hemas, DFCC (Green Bond project), Talawakelle TE (Category B winner), Elpitiya, Kelani Valley, Dilmah, Dipped Products, Haycarb, Teejay, Hayleys, Nawaloka Hospitals, Singer and Softlogic Life Insurance.

A Vietnamese embassy delegation led by Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam visited Sri Lanka’s Northern Province (17–19 Nov 2025) to explore cooperation and invite Vietnamese investment in agriculture, aquaculture, agro-processing, tourism, infrastructure and renewable energy. The visit referenced the $1bn bilateral trade target and sought technical cooperation and capacity building.

Softlogic Life Insurance PLC (AAIC.N0000) won the 'AI Initiative of the Year' award at the 29th Asia Insurance Industry Awards 2025. Its InstaClaim AI cut claim settlement times from five days to minutes, processing ~500,000 claims annually and supporting Rs.11.1bn in 2024 payouts with an 82% productivity gain.

Softlogic Life Insurance PLC (AAIC.N0000) won the 'AI Initiative of the Year' at the 29th Asia Insurance Industry Awards 2025. Its AI-driven InstaClaim platform has cut claim settlement times from five days to minutes and handles around half a million claims annually.