News & market updates

NDB Bank (National Development Bank PLC) is the Official Banking Partner for the SLIM SME Development Awards (SMEDA) 2024. The partnership supports and recognises SMEs across sectors including IT/digital, FMCG, exports, hospitality and health.

Brown & Company PLC (BRWN.N0000) celebrates its 150th anniversary, highlighting its status as a diversified conglomerate and the world’s largest tea producer/exporter with investments in renewables and the Colombo Port City marina; the company is presented as part of the LOLC group.

Nawaloka Hospitals PLC launched an AI-powered OPD chatbot (NASHA) and an integrated corporate chatbot on its website to improve patient interaction and service efficiency. The platform-agnostic tools are designed to enhance productivity, operational efficiency and personalized care.

AuroraRCM launched a nationwide initiative and first-of-its-kind RCM101 workshop series, drawing over 400 students at NSBM, to develop the next generation of healthcare technology and RCM professionals in Sri Lanka. The program follows an MoU with NSBM and partnerships with six other universities to provide internships and placements.

Dr. Sachini Aththanayaka, Director of Sayora Healthcare (Pvt) Ltd, won the Excellency Award in the Beauty, Health and Wellness Services category at the Entro Queen Excellence – Leading Lady in Business Award 2025. Sayora Healthcare provides integrated services including modern and natural aesthetics, Ayurveda, pharmaceuticals, laboratory services, physiotherapy and more.

OREL Cloud became the first local Sri Lankan cloud provider certified to ISO/IEC 27017 in August 2024, establishing a cloud-specific information-security benchmark. The certification aims to boost trust and simplify compliance for regulated sectors such as banking and healthcare.

A new Sri Lankan study of 6,300 adults found only 20% of adults with hypertension had their blood pressure under control in 2019. Only 53% had ever been diagnosed and 44% were treated; control was worse in men and in Tamil and Muslim Sri Lankans, and public sector patients had better control than private.

Strong.lk opened its second health and wellness concept store in Mount Lavinia, featuring a dedicated fitness zone, a ready-made protein shake and coffee bar, premium supplements, and gym apparel.

US President Donald Trump said he will sign an executive order to institute a 'most favoured nation' policy for pharmaceuticals, claiming US prescription drug prices will be reduced by 30–80% and that prices will be equalized (and rise) globally.

Cabinet approved procurement of 30,000 vials of 50 mg liposomal Amphotericin B for Rs. 194.26 million, awarding the contract to M/s Slim Pharmaceuticals Ltd, with the drug supplied by Gufic Bioscience Ltd (India) after international competitive bidding.

Cabinet approved awarding a contract to Zodiac Medicals (local representative of Zimmer Inc.) for 1,000 Total Knee Replacement component sets at a 2% discounted price after only one bid; bids will be recalled for the remaining 2,000 sets under a limited international rebid.

The US and UK reached a limited tariff deal cutting US import taxes on British cars from 25% to 10% for up to 100,000 vehicles a year and slashing steel and aluminum tariffs, while tariffs on pharmaceuticals and digital services remain unchanged; the 90-day pause ends July 8. The pact is not a full free-trade agreement and offers limited potential relief for Sri Lanka.

Cabinet approved appointing an expert committee to review the operations, legal frameworks and strategic plans of the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) and the Sri Lanka Institute of Biotechnology (SLIBREC). The committee will report and recommend reforms to realign the institutes to drive innovation-led growth and support development priorities.

LAUGFS Holdings appointed Dr. Ravi Edirisinghe as Group Managing Director and Group CEO, effective 2 May 2025. He will lead a business revival and transformation across LAUGFS’s energy, retail, manufacturing and hospitality operations.

Sunshine Holdings' retail arm Healthguard opened its 16th outlet at Thalahena, Malabe, the chain's first store launch in 2025. The opening extends Healthguard's footprint beyond Colombo to serve suburban customers and highlights its 'Purple Service' customer-care model.

Sunshine Holdings' fully owned subsidiary Healthguard Distribution has signed a partnership with Micro Healthcare (Pvt) Ltd to distribute Micro Labs' pharmaceutical portfolio across Sri Lanka, leveraging Healthguard's network of over 4,500 retailers.

Siddhalepa has made its Supirivicky oral health awareness campaign a continuous island-wide program, distributing Supirivicky toothpaste at sessions across Sri Lanka. The herbal, SLS 275-compliant toothpaste is patented locally and a German study reported reductions in gingival inflammation and plaque.

LAUGFS Holdings appointed Dr. Ravi Edirisinghe as Group Managing Director and Group CEO, effective 2 May 2025. He succeeds Piyadasa Kudabalage and will lead the group's business revival and transformation across its energy, retail, manufacturing and hospitality operations.

SLT-MOBITEL hosted a Health Camp in early May 2025 at its Gampaha regional office, providing free medical services to over 350 residents and offering online consultations via eChannelling. The event was held under its 'Sambandiyawe Dahami Sathkaraya' CSR and ESG programme.

Seylan Bank’s Seylan Harasara offers senior citizens discounts including up to 20% off at Asiri Hospitals and reimbursements up to Rs.200,000 on surgical expenses, plus pension loans up to Rs.5 million and other benefits through partner discounts.

Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General (SLICGL) and the Royal College Union signed an MoU on 9 April 2025 for SLICGL to provide RCU members exclusive insurance benefits and to contribute a percentage of net premiums from policy conversions to the RCU Loyalty Pledge for scholarships. Benefits include discounts on Medi Plus/Medi 60, loyalty rewards, vehicle cover enhancements and complimentary Home Protect Lite or Solar cover with Motor Comprehensive policies.

US buyers are delaying decisions to shift sourcing out of Sri Lanka pending clarity on a proposed 44% US tariff, while a reduced 10% duty is currently in effect and buyers are pressuring exporters to share the cost. Exporters, notably rubber glove and tyre makers, report no immediate cancellations but warn volumes could fall in late 2025 if tariffs remain high.

Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General Ltd. (SLICGL) and the Royal College Union signed an MoU on 9 April 2025 under which SLICGL will provide RCU members exclusive insurance benefits and contribute a percentage of net premiums from policy conversions to the RCU Loyalty Pledge to fund scholarships. Benefits include discounts on Medi Plus/Medi 60, loyalty rewards, vehicle cover options and complimentary Home Protect Lite or Solar cover with certain motor policies.

Peradeniya Veterinary Teaching Hospital has formally adopted Dr. Paw, developed by Pet Care Solutions Lanka, as its official digital veterinary hospital management system. The platform—beta-tested at PVTH since 2023 and provided free to the hospital—offers EHR, telemedicine, appointment scheduling and analytics.

Hemas Consumer Brands relaunched Clogard Natural Salt Toothpaste to promote stronger teeth and healthier gums, featuring new pink packaging, on-ground sampling activations across multiple localities and a mobile dental truck providing on-site oral examinations.

Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation launched a children's book on dementia (available in Sinhala, Tamil and English) and will run a three-month nationwide awareness campaign including school readings and library distributions. A digital version and a new LAF website will support access and outreach.