News & market updates

Parliament's Committee on Public Finance will review next week a report into a $2.5m cyber theft from the Treasury's sovereign debt repayment process. Disclosures say 10 repayment transactions between Nov 2025 and Jan 2026 were diverted to unauthorised accounts.

SLCERT warned of a rise in AI-generated deepfake videos used to promote investment scams, reporting 360 cyber-related financial fraud complaints so far this year. The agency said fake videos featuring the President, Prime Minister and other public figures link to fraudulent sites that steal money and personal data.

China and Sri Lanka have deepened joint law-enforcement cooperation to crack down on cross-border online gambling and telecom fraud, with Sri Lankan authorities dismantling several centres and arresting and deporting suspects. The countries warned organised criminal networks displaced from parts of East and Southeast Asia are seeking to expand into Sri Lanka.

SLT-MOBITEL supplied end-to-end digital infrastructure for the renovated Central Bus Stand, Colombo, including real-time displays, wi‑fi and an Online Bus Ticket Reservation pilot covering Makumbura–Matara and Makumbura–Galle routes, with feedback, route expansion and potential national rollout planned.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat with the ASPI down 0.07% at 21,744; market turnover was Rs.2.98bn, led by capital goods at Rs.1.26bn. HNB Finance issued a notification on rights issue application procedures for shareholders (record date June 3) and its shares closed down 1.11% at Rs.8.90.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC opened a full-service branch in Port City Colombo (Building 04, Area 02) to serve corporates, investors, businesses and retail customers, offering corporate and retail banking, trade finance, treasury/FX, digital services and 24/7 ATM/CRM access.

Technocity Private Limited received Lenovo’s Partner Excellence Award 2025–26 for Distribution in Sri Lanka at the Lenovo 360 Accelerate regional event in Colombo. The award recognises Technocity’s role as a Lenovo distributor since 2011 and its contribution to expanding Lenovo’s channel network nationwide.

Regional Development Bank posted 1Q FY2026 profit after tax of Rs.1.08 billion, up 187.3% from Rs.377 million a year earlier (PBT Rs.1.87 billion, +103%). The bank reported NIM of 6.9%, loans of Rs.323bn, deposits of Rs.286bn, CET1 9.59% and LCR 135%.

Pink Eagle Holdings is consolidating as a diversified Sri Lankan conglomerate, expanding globally across tea exports, logistics, food manufacturing, hospitality and digital retail. Milestones include Continental Tea/ADRA Ceylon's 10th anniversary, the Avanti freight app launch, and new food-manufacturing and retail initiatives.

SLT-MOBITEL PEOTV secured exclusive media broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka, covering all 104 matches. Matches will be delivered in HD across PEOTV, PEO MOBILE and its digital platforms.

Pan Asia Bank won the Gold Award at the Qorus Reinvention Awards APAC 2026 in the Operations & Workforce Transformation category for its in‑house FalconEye platform. The solution integrates data, processes and teams to improve decision-making, reduce manual effort and speed customer service.

LOLC Finance PLC inaugurated a new Gelioya branch on 21 May 2026 and relocated its Galenbidunuwewa branch on 22 May 2026, expanding its islandwide branch network. The moves aim to improve financial access for individuals, SMEs and entrepreneurs as the company grows its network of over 200 branches.

The Revenue Management Committee of Sri Lanka's Finance Ministry has launched a public call for evidence-based proposals to raise national revenue to 20% of GDP, seeking measures such as tax-base broadening, digitalizing revenue agencies and formalizing the informal economy; submissions due June 16, 2026.

Sanasa Development Bank (SDB.N0000) reported Profit After Tax of Rs. 60 million for Q1 2026, a 7% increase year-on-year. Net fee and commission income rose 29% to Rs. 152 million, and capital/liquidity ratios remained strong (Total Capital Ratio 15.15%, LCR 145.08%, NSFR 136.97%).

DFCC Bank PLC appointed Shamindra Marcelline as Executive Director effective 15 June 2026, following Board and Central Bank approval. He was Deputy CEO overseeing customer excellence, sustainability, information security, logistics and real estate and will support the bank's digital innovation and strategic growth.

Aitken Spence PLC reported FY26 PBT of Rs. 12.8 billion (up 18%) and PAT of Rs. 9.1 billion (Rs. 6.8 billion attributable to equity holders); tourism accounted for 61% of Group PBT and overseas operations contributed 61% of profits.

Kaspersky has uncovered a wave of phishing campaigns using Google’s AppSheet to send recruitment-style emails from noreply@appsheet.com that often pass SPF/DKIM/DMARC and redirect recipients to credential-harvesting pages; attackers can also use AppSheet automations (email/SMS) to scale distribution.

Aitken Spence PLC posted FY26 PBT of Rs. 12.8 billion (up 18%) and PAT of Rs. 9.1 billion (up 27%). Tourism was the main driver—accounting for 61% of group contribution—overseas operations provided 61% of profits, and the group secured SBTi-validated emission reduction targets.

CID told Colombo Fort Magistrate that Department of External Resources officials processed a $2.5m Treasury payment using emailed invoices without verifying them against the original loan agreement. Four CDs of server data will be forensically examined and 42 statements recorded; case adjourned to 8 July.

The Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry has invited public proposals to raise government revenue to 20% of GDP, with submissions to the Revenue Management Committee due by 16 June. Government revenue reached nearly 15.4% of GDP in 2025; proposals may cover tax-base broadening, formalisation and digitalisation of revenue systems.

ZTE Lanka hosted 'ZTE Day 2026' on 29 May 2026 at the Galle Face Hotel to showcase its connectivity, computing and intelligence solutions and reaffirm its commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s digital transformation.

HUTCH Sri Lanka will serve as the Official Telecommunication Partner for BestWeb.LK 2026, supporting the national web design competition and its digital ecosystem initiatives. BestWeb.LK, organized by the LK Domain Registry, is in its sixteenth year recognizing websites under the .lk domain.

The Ceylon Chamber will host the Sri Lanka Climate Summit 2026 on 9 June in Colombo to focus on business climate readiness, investment readiness and unlocking climate finance. Participants include the Environment Minister, ADB, UN agencies, Commercial Bank CEO and Aitken Spence sustainability leadership.

University of Sri Jayewardenepura launched Value Masters 2026, the second edition of Sri Lanka's inter‑university equity valuation competition, on 25 May 2026. Organized with CFA Society Sri Lanka and Acuity Analytics, the event involves 42 teams from 10 universities, offers mentoring/training, a July finale and cash prizes.

Seylan Bank donated a smart board and a suite of carpentry tools to the WP/PIL School for the Deaf, Ratmalana on 5 May 2026 to support inclusive education and vocational skills development.

SLT-Mobitel PEOTV secured exclusive media broadcast rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka, offering live coverage of all matches via PEOTV, PEO MOBILE and digital platforms.

DFCC Bank PLC launched DFCC ONE Online and new DFCC ONE app features — including traffic fine payments, digital transactions for sole proprietors, enhanced P2P QR transfers (up to Rs.5,000), LankaQR merchant payments and account opening — across mobile and desktop. The updates unify personal and business banking on a single digital platform.

Bank of Ceylon installed QR-based Digital Tills at Kiri Vehera and Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya to enable devotees to make donations digitally. The initiative aligns with the government and Central Bank digital roadmap promoting a cashless economy.

Prime Lands Residencies PLC reported FY2026 profit after tax of Rs. 2.06 billion (up 67% YoY) and declared an interim cash dividend of Rs. 0.80 per share (ex-dividend 09 Jun 2026; payment 26 Jun 2026).

Binance launched U.S. equities trading for eligible users, offering access to more than 7,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs and zero-commission trading, and said it will soon introduce tokenized "bStocks" issued by BTECH Holdings Ltd, subject to approvals.