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.
GRI and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board signed a multi-year cooperation agreement on 7 Sep 2026 to strengthen sustainability and impact reporting across Sri Lanka's export ecosystem, with particular emphasis on SMEs. The partnership will build on prior textile/apparel collaboration and align GRI Standards with Sri Lanka's NGRS and IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards.
Cabinet approved a new institutional framework for negotiating future FTAs, creating a National Trade Negotiations Committee chaired by the Trade Ministry Secretary, 12 sector-specific subcommittees and a Trade Policy Advisory Committee to review and pursue new bilateral and regional trade agreements.
The Tea Exporters Association held its 27th AGM, reappointing Huzefa Akbarally as chairman and warning that about 85% of Ceylon Tea shipping routes have been disrupted with freight rates rising several-fold, yet exports remain resilient. TEA urged government support to boost smallholder production, restore brand promotion and export incentives and said the industry could reach 350 million kilos by 2030.
GRI and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board signed a multi-year cooperation agreement on 7 Sep 2026 to strengthen sustainability and impact reporting across Sri Lanka's export ecosystem, with particular emphasis on SMEs and alignment with GRI, NGRS and IFRS sustainability disclosure standards.
Japan's ambassador urged Sri Lanka to pivot toward Southeast Asia and Japan and adopt an export-oriented industrial model, calling for forward-looking trade and investment policy, stronger domestic industrial policy and expanded renewable energy investment; he cited the National Export Development Plan 2026 and a proposed Sri Lanka-Japan Economic Corridor.
The Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai staged the second 'Sri Lanka Beyond Your Dreams' event to showcase tourism, trade and strategic investment and to push a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE. Ministers and UAE trade officials highlighted logistics, free zones, technology and Port City Colombo as key avenues to attract GCC investment and strengthen bilateral economic ties.
The National Chamber of Exporters will host the 34th Annual NCE Export Awards on 11 December 2026, with applications open until 30 September 2026. The awards recognise exporters across manufacturing, agriculture and services and now assess value addition, innovation, governance and People, Planet and Profit criteria.
Cabinet approved establishing a National Trade Negotiation Committee to review existing free trade agreements and guide future bilateral and regional deals, appointing the Trade Secretary as its chair and chief negotiator. It will create 12 subject-specific sub-committees and a Trade Policy Advisory Committee of experts and stakeholders.
The BOI hosted the fifth Sri Lanka-Japan Business Environment Committee where Japanese investors raised operational concerns across manufacturing, logistics, energy, infrastructure and environmental services and government agencies provided responses. The meeting also convened the first Sri Lanka-Japan Joint Working Group on an export‑oriented industrial corridor to advance bilateral industrial and export development.
The first commercial shipment of Sri Lankan fresh pineapples arrived in Karachi on 6 September 2026, marking new market access to Pakistan. Phytosanitary approvals were completed after cooperation between Sri Lanka and Pakistan authorities, opening opportunities for exporters and importers.
Japan's Ambassador Akio Isomata, speaking at the 47th SLJBC AGM, outlined three priorities to deepen Sri Lanka-Japan economic ties: forward-looking trade and investment policy, promotion of domestic industrial policy, and expanded investment in renewable energy. He welcomed the National Export Development Plan 2026 and urged an export-oriented industrial model linked to regional manufacturing.
The BOI hosted the 5th Sri Lanka-Japan Business Environment Committee meeting to address operational issues faced by Japanese investors across manufacturing, consumer & health products, logistics and energy. The meeting also held the first session of a Joint Working Group on an export‑oriented industrial corridor.
JAAF Secretary General Yohan Lawrence said Sri Lanka's apparel industry has fallen behind on automation after successive crises and now faces rising competition from African manufacturing hubs such as Egypt under AGOA. JAAF is exploring government incentive schemes to boost automation and renewable-energy adoption as global demand softens amid higher inflation and oil prices.
At least 402 ready-made garment factories in Bangladesh closed between July 2023 and June 2026, the commerce minister told parliament. The government has introduced cash assistance (1.5% plus 0.5% for Eurozone exports), additional SME benefits and a 2% incentive for new products/markets, and is pursuing FTAs to offset lost preferences.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board and Global Electronics Association (IPC India) ran the first workshop on hand soldering and wire-harness techniques for VTA students on 14 Aug 2026 at K-TEC Orugodawatta, attended by about 140 participants (≈100 VTA students). The event aimed to boost skills for the electronic and electrical manufacturing sector and to update VTA curricula to IPC standards.
NYK's Azalea Leader, a new-generation LNG dual-fuel Pure Car and Truck Carrier, made its maiden call at Hambantota International Port carrying 4,810 vehicles for transhipment and 47 for local discharge. HIP said the call highlights its growing role as a regional RoRo automotive transhipment gateway and its capability to handle large, modern vehicle carriers.
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board and SriLankan Airlines unveiled a specially branded A321 Neo to promote Sri Lanka Expo 2027, scheduled for 14-17 Jan 2027 and expected to host 750+ exhibitors and 1,500+ international buyers. SriLankan will offer up to 20% economy and 10% business discounts for visiting buyers.
FCCISL and Industry Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe agreed a roadmap to identify and incubate 1,000-5,000 scalable SMEs and drive 25% export growth. The three-year plan targets agriculture, ICT, logistics and value-added product sectors and includes an "SMEs Go Global" initiative to access international markets.
The Sri Lanka-Benelux Business Council held its 31st AGM where Dutch Ambassador Wiebe de Boer confirmed Sri Lanka's GSP+ access remains until 2029 and urged deeper EU ties including a potential FTA. Council president Farhath Amith (re-elected) urged Benelux support and highlighted renewable energy, floriculture, agro-processing, eco-tourism and healthcare as priority sectors.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged better coordination to develop Sri Lanka's mineral industry under the National Mineral Policy 2026, focusing on attracting investment, easing licensing and boosting value addition to raise exports. Mineral exports were $20m in the first seven months of 2026, up nearly 60% y/y; ITC estimates $778m potential.
Minister Vijitha Herath visited the UAE on 2-3 September 2026 to promote tourism, trade and investment and urged expediting a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). He held bilateral talks with UAE ministers and met EMAAR executives to discuss investment opportunities in Port City Colombo.
US Federal Maritime Commission Chair Laura DiBella and Commissioner Robert Harvey will visit Sri Lanka from 6-10 September to advance cooperation on maritime trade and investment, meet senior Sri Lankan government and maritime leaders, and speak at the 8th Colombo International Maritime and Logistics Conference.
The Export Development Board and Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka held a one-day Marine and Offshore Engineering workshop on 24 August at the University of Moratuwa to boost skills, industry exposure and readiness of engineering undergraduates in support of Sri Lanka's marine/offshore export sector.
Government launches the 'Ceylon King Coconut Village' programme to establish 250 king coconut villages by 2028 (75 planned this year) to expand exports and capture a global king coconut products market the minister says could grow to about $10bn. The plan targets higher rural incomes, jobs and increased value-added processing and exports.
Dutch Ambassador Wiebe de Boer said the Benelux union could serve as a sandbox to boost Sri Lankan exporters' EU integration and link to the Port of Rotterdam, noting Sri Lanka's GSP+ access runs until 2029. He urged progress toward an EU FTA, flagged bureaucratic hurdles and named renewable energy, floriculture, agro‑processing, eco‑tourism and healthcare as priority collaboration sectors.
Frontier Research warns cheaper AI-generated code could erode the value of Sri Lanka's ICT and BPM exports, which earned $150.49m in June (up 11.31% YoY). It says a government AI data centre initiative could open a new foreign-exchange channel and AI may help offset long-term labour constraints.
Minister Vijitha Herath inaugurated Gem City Ratnapura 2026 and urged greater value addition in the gem and jewellery industry, calling the NGJA target to raise exports to $3 billion by 2030 a national economic objective. Ministers also highlighted gem tourism, traceability, certification and simpler import-export procedures to boost value-added manufacturing and market access.
The Sri Lanka-Benelux Business Council held its 31st AGM where the Dutch Ambassador confirmed Sri Lanka's GSP+ access remains until 2029 with a two-year window to reapply and urged progress toward a full EU FTA; the council urged Benelux support to extend GSP+ and highlighted sectors including renewable energy, floriculture, agriculture, eco‑tourism and healthcare.
FCCISL President Dr. Rohitha Silva led a delegation to meet the Thai Ambassador to explore strengthening ties and expanding trade, investment and business cooperation, including advancing the Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement. FCCISL also sought the embassy's support to encourage Thai participation in an Asia Trade Fair planned for early 2027.
The Export Development Board launched Creative Sri Lanka 2030, a three-year national programme to turn traditional crafts into export-ready Umbrella Brands; it will cluster SMEs around 10 leading brands and aims to lift creative-industry export revenue by 10% by 2028-29.