Colombo's ASPI fell 0.03% to 21,417.80, extending a third straight day of losses on profit taking and net foreign outflows of Rs.36.7m. Banking led turnover (27%) while Haycarb, Chevron Lubricants, John Keells and Hayleys were among top contributors.
Ceylon Chamber will host a launch seminar for the revamped Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards (BCCS) 2026 on 30 July at 2:00 p.m. at the Chamber Auditorium to explain the updated evaluation framework, submission requirements and ESG reporting guidance.
Daily FT·Jul 16, 2026·Management or board change·HBSPositive
Sampath Jayasundara, CEO of hSenid Business Solutions PLC, was elected Chairman of SLASSCOM for 2026/27 and will prioritise AI upskilling, entrepreneurship and product-led growth to help scale Sri Lanka's knowledge and innovation exports toward a $5bn target.
CPA survey found 75.5% satisfied with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake versus 29.4% for Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. Despite high presidential approval, 51.4% say household economic conditions worsened and opinion is split on government handling of cost of living (45.3% satisfied); 64.1% support abolishing the Executive Presidency but only 23.6% want it started immediately.
Sri Lanka Customs collected Rs.125.2bn by 14 July, about 65% of its Rs.192.4bn July target, keeping it on track to exceed the monthly goal for a seventh consecutive month. Customs posted a record Rs.2,551bn in 2025 and set a lower Rs.2,207bn target for 2026, citing expected decline in motor vehicle imports.
Amana Bank (ABL.N0000) opened its 47th Self Banking Centre in Warakapola, offering 24/7 cash withdrawals, cash and cheque deposits and bill payments to the local community.
Bank of Ceylon launched BOC Flex Tap & Pay on 9 July 2026, introducing Sri Lanka's first mobile banking wallet-based contactless payment solution with virtual cards for NFC POS and online payments and features like auto top-up and card management.
IT & Digital
Daily FT·Jul 16, 2026·Award or certification·HASUPositive
HNB Life PLC won three Gold awards in the Quality Improvement Project Category at the National Convention on Quality and Productivity 2026. The recognised projects target customer experience, operational efficiency and workforce empowerment using technology-driven innovation.
Colombo Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission will hold investor forums in Monaragala (16 July) and Batticaloa (18 July) to broaden retail investor participation. The free forums (Sinhala/Tamil) will feature broker and unit trust representatives for on-site account openings; first 200 account openers receive an investment coupon.
Ceylinco Life hosted over 1,000 policyholders and family members—more than 270 families—from across Sri Lanka at Pearl Bay as part of its 'Family Savari' promotion, providing complimentary entry, meals and transport with sponsored overnight stays for long-distance guests. The event is part of the long-running loyalty programme serving tens of thousands of policyholders over nearly two decades.
The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors will hold the Sri Lanka Corporate Director Summit 2026 on 22 July at Cinnamon Grand Colombo featuring a session 'Talent and Culture – What Boards Can No Longer Ignore' with international speakers; Hemas Holdings PLC's Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer Ravi Jayasekera will join the panel.
Sri Lanka Customs collected 125.2 billion rupees in the first 14 days of July, more than 65% of its 192.4 billion-rupee monthly target and on track to outperform the target for a seventh consecutive month. Stronger enforcement, digital scanning, improved valuation and a rebound in imports have driven collections, boosting Treasury revenue.
Sri Lanka's rupee closed at 336.30/40 to the US dollar (from 336.00/20), while government bond yields edged slightly higher — the 15.09.2027 bond rose to 10.40/50% from 10.35/50%.
Sri Lanka's Treasury bill yields fell at Wednesday's auction and all Rs120 billion offered were sold. The 3-month was down 8bps to 10.13% (Rs55bn sold), the 6-month down 3bps to 10.27% (Rs35bn) and the 12-month down 1bp to 10.20% (Rs30bn).
Sampath Bank (SAMP.N0000) will list Rs10 billion of Basel III-compliant tier-2 green bonds, offering 13.00% and 13.25% coupons for 5- and 7-year maturities; Fitch assigned the issue a final National Long-Term Rating of A(lka). Subscription opens July 17.
MAC Hotels and Villas (a subsidiary of MAC Holdings Pvt Ltd) acquired Serene Pavilions and in January 2026 reopened it after refurbishment and rebranding as CLOVE Beach – Wadduwa, a 15-room luxury boutique hotel in Wadduwa.
Sri Lanka's cabinet approved a new national livestock policy to replace the two-decade-old framework, prioritising private sector-led, market-oriented competitive production. The policy also emphasises sustainable, environmentally friendly development and targeted support for small-scale farmers.
Sri Lanka held the inaugural Development Partner Working Group on Digital Transformation on 13 July to align institutional frameworks and human-capacity building for national digital public services. The session, co-chaired by the Deputy Minister of Digital Economy and the UN Resident Coordinator, prioritized coordination with international partners and public-sector upskilling.
Sri Lanka's rupee traded at 336.35/50 to the US dollar on Wednesday, slightly weaker than the prior day's 336.00/20, while government bond yields were largely steady. Rs. 120,000 million of Treasury bills are scheduled for auction on July 15.
Asian stocks rallied after U.S. CPI fell 0.4% in June and annual core inflation eased to 2.6%, cutting rate-hike odds and sending two-year Treasury yields down 11bp to 4.19%. Oil steadied around $85.80/bbl and China's Q2 GDP slowed to 4.3%.
Interest RatesFuel & Energy PricesIT & DigitalExporters
Three correspondent banks in the US, UAE and Vietnam rejected a fraudulent $1.3m government debt payment before scammers' revised instructions enabled part of a $2.5m Treasury phishing fraud to succeed, MPs heard. The Central Bank said it alerted the Treasury each time but had no statutory duty to file suspicious-transaction reports; the committee is probing payment governance and the PDMO handover.
Outgoing Swedish Ambassador Jan Thesleff said Sri Lanka's improving policy stability is restoring international investor confidence and named renewable energy, ICT, apparel, healthcare and food processing as key growth sectors; a Swedish business delegation will visit in January 2027.
The National System Operator has launched an international tender for a 250 MW/1000 MWh standalone BESS, to be delivered as 25 x 10 MW/40 MWh blocks under 15-year BOO contracts; proposals are due 14 August 2026. The tender aims to improve renewable integration and support the government's 70% renewable-by-2030 and net-zero-by-2050 targets.
Government set a 2027 primary expenditure ceiling of Rs.5.064 trillion (12.9% of GDP) and projects the budget deficit will narrow to 4.5% of GDP in 2027, targeting a primary surplus of 2.6% of GDP from 2027 onwards.
Commercial Bank will open subscriptions on 16 July for up to Rs.20bn of Basel III-compliant subordinated debentures and Sampath Bank will open on 17 July for up to Rs.10bn of Basel III-compliant Tier-2 green bonds. Commercial Bank offers 5/7/10-year series at 13.00–13.25%; Sampath offers 5- and 7-year series at 13% and 13.25%.