News & market updates

Rockland Group will hold the grand finale of the 6th Annual Bar Champs on 27 July at Shangri‑La Colombo, with nine semi‑finalists advancing after regional workshops and a Rockland-hosted bootcamp. The programme trained over 240 participants, including a record 67 female competitors, with masterclasses from Smoke and Bitters.

Charcoal Tandoor Fire & Grill has opened in Colombo, drawing attention for its open kitchen and tandoor-focused North Indian menu. The restaurant's bespoke interiors — high ceilings, Jali screens, copper vessels and spice displays — tie the dining experience to regional culinary heritage.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said an efficient public sector and accountable management accounting are essential for Sri Lanka's sustainable development as the country recovers from its economic crisis, and warned legal action against institutions that fail to submit financial reports. She launched the CMA National Management Accounting Conference Journal and noted progress in manufacturing, tourism and financial sectors.

Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur and the Federation of Malaysian Sri Lankan Organisations agreed to boost tourism and investment ties, exploring improved air connectivity and projects such as hotels, theme parks and golf/leisure developments to promote travel and cultural links.

Emirates is rolling out the U-Dream multi-way adjustable headrest in Economy Class across its A350s and most A380s and 777s, with all A350s to be fitted by year-end and 270 ordered Boeing 777Xs to come pre-installed.

Mandara Rosen Yala – Kataragama is inviting travellers to experience the Kataragama Esala Festival and markets itself as the region's only SLTDA-classified four-star hotel with 60 rooms. The property offers easy access to festival grounds and regional attractions plus conference and leisure facilities.

Uga Resorts opened a five-kilometre community electric fence at Uga Ulagalla on 15 July 2026 to protect 65 farming families and about 132 acres; the project cost ~LKR 4.5m, with Uga contributing ~LKR 3.175m.

AI is reshaping Sri Lanka's hospitality and tourism sectors, said speakers at 'EME Level Up: AI Hospitality Connect Sri Lanka 2026', highlighting an AI Visibility Report that identified 1,207 Sri Lankan hotel brands. TrustYou benchmarking showed Colombo's RPS at 87.45% and a score-to-revenue value of $222,000.

Vietjet will launch its first scheduled Colombo–Ho Chi Minh City service on 18 Aug 2026 (three times weekly) and is offering a limited-time promotion with Eco fares from USD90 one-way (taxes included) plus complimentary 20kg checked baggage for bookings 20–23 Jul 2026.

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Sri Lankan exporters must prepare for new EU sustainability rules—EmpCo (from 27 Sep 2026), PPWR (from 12 Aug 2026) and EUDR (due diligence from 30 Dec 2026)—which expand scrutiny of claims and supply chains and carry penalties up to €2m or 4% of turnover.

Sri Lanka received 118,935 tourists in the first 19 days of July, a 0.6% YoY decline, with YTD arrivals at just over 1.26m (down 1.72% YoY), as disruptions to Middle Eastern air corridors continue to constrain long-haul European traffic.

Mayur Lodge by NYNE offers two exclusive villas (each accommodating up to six guests) about 20 minutes from Yala National Park, positioned to serve wildlife tourists during the dry season (May–Sept). The boutique lodge highlights bespoke dining, an in‑house naturalist and sustainable, low‑impact operations.

Ceylon Cold Stores' Elephant House partnered with Eco Spindles on 30 June 2026 to clean Ruwanwelisaya, collecting about 350 kg of plastic bottles that will be processed into monofilaments and yarn. The CSR drive involved 60 volunteers and aimed to raise visitor awareness on waste segregation.

Sri Lankan exporters are being urged to prepare for new EU sustainability rules — EmpCo, PPWR and EUDR — with compliance timelines from Aug–Dec 2026 and penalties up to €2m or 4% of turnover. The measures target sectors including tea, food/agriculture, apparel, rubber, plastics, fisheries and tourism; Peterson Solutions is offering guidance and a free ESG webinar on 29 July 2026.

Sun Siyam Pasikudah hosted 24 Miss Polski 2026 finalists and a 45-member production crew for an exclusive photoshoot on Sri Lanka's East Coast as part of a Sri Lanka Tourism–organised pre-final tour, showcasing the resort and region to Polish media.

Panda Farmacy has reopened after months of restoration following severe flooding from Cyclone Ditwah that damaged its facilities, programmes and animal habitats. The farm repaired infrastructure and animal enclosures and is resuming guided tours, educational programmes and bookings.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors will host the Sri Lanka Corporate Director Summit 2026 on 22 July at Cinnamon Grand Colombo focused on governance, reputation and sustainable leadership. Keynote speaker Vivek Sharma will discuss reputation risk and panels include Nestlé Lanka's MD and Commercial Bank of Ceylon Chairman Sharhan Muhseen.

Sri Lanka launched the "Buddha Wandana" Buddhist Trail tour package on 16 July to attract pilgrims from Viet Nam ahead of direct flights starting 18 August 2026. The government-backed initiative aims to boost rural tourism, support local SMEs and deepen cultural tourism links with Viet Nam.

KPMG says Sri Lanka's credit rebound faces a major test after the Central Bank raised the policy rate by 100 basis points to 8.75%, a move expected to moderate private-sector credit growth. Lower fuel and vehicle imports, resilient remittances and stronger tax revenue are seen supporting a return to a current-account surplus and fiscal consolidation.

Sri Lanka welcomed 9,122 tourists in the first 15 days of July 2026, bringing cumulative 2026 arrivals to over 1.23 million (YTD arrivals 2% below last year). India remained the top source market with 314,163 visitors year-to-date.

Nojili Group CEO L.A.D. Palitha completed a business development visit to Myanmar (11–17 June 2026) to explore collaboration in gemstones, jewellery, tourism and investment. Meetings in Yangon and participation in the UMTA Travel Fair focused on eco-, cultural- and heritage-tourism and trade partnerships.

Sri Lanka's High Commissioner and the Federation of Malaysian Sri Lankan Organisations agreed to strengthen engagement to promote tourism and investment, exploring direct Malaysia–Northern Province air links and projects including hotels, golf, leisure and theme-park developments.

FACETS Sri Lanka 2027, the 34th annual international gem and jewellery exhibition, will be held 4–6 January in Colombo and will bring over 100 exhibitors and buyers from the USA, Europe, the Middle East, India, China and other markets. Organisers say the event aims to boost SME exporters, sustainable sourcing and market access for Sri Lankan gem and jewellery businesses.

Western Province cut entertainment tax rates for cinemas, sports and concerts in the Colombo Municipal Council area — cinema admissions cut to 7% from 10%, international sporting events to 14% from 15%, and foreign-artist concerts to 10% from 15%. A 5% concessional rate and exemptions for certain charity/veteran-artist events are retained.

FACETS Sri Lanka 2027, organised by the Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Association, will be held 4–6 Jan 2027 at Cinnamon Life and will bring together over 100 exhibitors and international buyers to Colombo.

The George Keyt Foundation and the British High Commission will present "19th Century Views of Ceylon" at Westminster House from July 30 to Aug 1, 2026; British Airways is the primary partner and Nations Trust Bank is a supporting sponsor.