News & market updates

Grand Leisure Care and Wellness Resort has opened in Kochchikade, Negombo, as a luxury aged-care facility combining resort-style accommodation with 24/7 doctors and nurses, wellness programmes, private rooms and family visitor accommodation for short-term recovery and long-term residence.

Gaurav Marya, chairman of Franchise India Group, is bringing the Global Franchise Forum to Colombo to connect international franchisors with local entrepreneurs and promote franchising-led job creation and FDI. He says franchising can aid Sri Lanka's recovery but needs infrastructure, banking reform, remittance liberalisation and skills development.

Sri Lanka adopted a strategic, non‑committal stance in talks with the US to preserve competitive access for exporters (notably apparel and rubber) and flagged energy as a priority for deeper trade ties. A 44% reciprocal tariff was suspended for three months with a 10% baseline; further discussions are expected.

Asiri Hospital Holdings' Asiri Central Hospital performed its first pediatric Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) surgery under a new Congenital Heart Surgery Program, funded by the government's Suraksha Insurance Plan. The operation, done in collaboration with Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, aims to reduce waiting lists and expand pediatric cardiac capacity.

Maliban is supporting the Sri Dalada Wandanawa at the Temple of the Tooth Relic by running dansalas serving tea, biscuits and milk to pilgrims (over three million expected), using QR-coded cups to summon ambulances, and organizing daily waste collection.

Haleon Sri Lanka partnered with the Sri Lanka Dental Association for Oral Health Day 2025, running nationwide awareness programs and free dental screenings that reached millions and provided professional assessments to over 50,000 participants. The campaign focused on dental sensitivity and will continue with further initiatives through the year.

Hemas Consumer Brands relaunched Clogard Natural Salt Toothpaste with a gum-health formulation combining fluoride and natural salt and new pink packaging. The relaunch featured a flagship event at Havelock City Mall on Apr 26 with 200 complimentary dental check-ups and a mobile dental truck touring multiple localities.

National Development Bank PLC (NDB.N0000) is promoting Avurudu offers with up to 70% discounts at 400+ merchants and 0% installment plans up to 36 months on NDB Cards. Offers include 0% installments for education, health, home appliances, travel benefits and zero fuel surcharges.

NDB Bank is the official banking partner of the fifth International Inventions and Innovations Exhibition and Competition “Sahasak Nimavum” run by the Sri Lanka Inventors Commission. The national phase (25–27 April at BMICH) showcased over 1,000 inventions and NDB framed the partnership as part of its sustainability and inclusive innovation support.

A. Baur & Co. Ltd held its 1,000th board meeting on 10 April, marking a milestone in its 128-year history. The announcement highlights its work in sustainable organic agriculture (including a 'super urea' fertiliser), healthcare and consumer distribution partnerships, digitalisation and renewable energy initiatives.

Fitch affirmed Hemas Holdings PLC's National Long-Term Rating at 'AAA (lka)' with a Stable Outlook, citing defensive cash flows and leading positions in pharmaceuticals and HPC; Fitch expects capex to rise to ~Rs.7bn p.a. in FY26–FY27 and forecasts EBITDA net leverage below 1.0x.

Two Curtin University Colombo Mechatronics students showcased innovations at Sahasak Nimavum 2025: Rovindu Tharin presented patent-pending 'LightSwap' to recover solar energy lost to shading, and Amithnal Herath presented 'SMARTNAV', an autonomous eye-controlled wheelchair with SLAM and EOG integration.

NDB Bank has reaffirmed its role as Official Banking Partner of the fifth 'Sahasak Nimavum' International Inventions and Innovations Exhibition (national phase 25–27 Apr 2025), showcasing 1,000+ inventions and highlighting its support for innovation, sustainability and digital entrepreneurship.

NDB Bank hosted a free medical eye camp at its Vavuniya branch under its NDB Aachara pensioner product, providing free eye exams and discounts to over 75 pensioners. The initiative aimed to support senior citizens' wellbeing and strengthen NDB's community presence in Vavuniya.

Fitch affirmed Hemas Holdings PLC's national long-term rating at 'AAA(lka)' with a Stable Outlook. Fitch cited the group's defensive operating cash flows (healthcare and consumer brands ~90% of EBIT) and noted planned capex rising to around LKR7.0 billion annually in FY26–FY27.

Colombo Stock Exchange will introduce the GSS+ Bonds Regulatory Framework effective March 2025, replacing 'Sustainability Bonds' with a broader GSS+ category and aligning issuance rules with ICMA. The framework also strengthens verification (e.g., Second Party Opinions/Certifications) to support capital raising for environmental and social projects.

Colombo Stock Exchange launched the GSS+ Bonds Regulatory Framework, replacing 'Sustainability Bonds' with a broader GSS+ category aligned with ICMA and adding enhanced verification (e.g., Second Party Opinion/Certification) to support issuance of green, blue, social, sustainability and sustainability-linked bonds.

Horana Plantations PLC's Neuchatel Estate (902 ha) has diversified into rubber, oil palm (124 ha), coconut and cinnamon, adopted digital weighing and secured EU Deforestation Regulation certification. The estate also runs community welfare, beekeeping and soil- and water-conservation initiatives that generate additional income.

Imran Furkan has been appointed as a Non-Executive Independent Director of Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC and Asiri Surgical Hospital PLC. He is an experienced board advisor with a focus on medical tourism and risk/strategy, and currently holds senior roles including CEO of Tresync and directorships at other firms.

Imran Furkan was appointed an independent non-executive director of Asiri Surgical Hospital PLC and Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC, effective April 21, the companies said in a stock exchange filing.

Nawaloka Hospitals is the Official Healthcare Partner for the Sri Lanka Super Series 2025, which was launched on 23 April 2025 with BetSS.com as title sponsor; the series will stage multiple races across the year and be broadcast live.

IIHS's Foundation in Biological Studies provides an O/L-to-university pathway into global health careers, with over 1,000 students already progressing to universities in Australia, the UK and Finland. The programme is aligned to international standards and includes science, academic skills and digital health training.

Flash Health won Runner-Up in the World Summit Awards 2025 (Health & Wellbeing) for its Flash Health Cashless OPD. The Cashless OPD enables employer-provided outpatient care without out-of-pocket costs and is aimed at expanding affordable digital healthcare access across South Asia.

Softlogic Life Insurance PLC (AAIC.N0000) reported Gross Written Premiums of Rs.31.6 billion for 2024—10x since 2014—with 20% YoY growth and a 17.2% market share, and honored 446 top sales achievers at its April 4, 2025 sales convention. The company said it protected over 1.3 million lives, settled Rs.14.8 billion in claims in 2024, and recorded 243 MDRT qualifiers.

Dipped Products said it will merge its wholly owned subsidiary DPL Premier Gloves Limited, subject to Board of Investment approval. The board said the amalgamation will financially and operationally benefit the company; the stock was trading up 1.85% at 49.50 rupees.

UAE Deputy PM Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan pledged UAE support to promote energy, tourism, foreign investment and foreign employment in Sri Lanka during an official visit and welcomed a trilateral MOU for Trincomalee as an energy hub. A UAE–Sri Lanka Joint Business Council MOU was also signed to boost business cooperation.

Colombo market stayed bearish as the ASPI fell 43 points (0.28%) and the S&P SL20 dipped 0.68% on turnover of Rs.991.4m, with foreign net selling of Rs.63.4m. Banking names (COMB, HNB, NDB) and JKH weighed on the index while pockets of interest were seen in CINS, ASIR and COCR and retail interest in PAP, LVEF and LOFC.

A. Baur & Co. Ltd. appointed Gehan Seneviratne as its new Board Director Alternate; he will continue as Director of subsidiary Baur Life Sciences Ltd. He has prior experience at GlaxoSmithKline and Merck and holds leadership roles in Sri Lankan pharma industry bodies.

McLarens Group hosted the 3M-McLarens Occupational Health and Safety Symposium 2025, drawing over 300 participants from more than 100 companies. The event introduced holographic authenticity stickers on personal safety products to help distinguish genuine 3M items from counterfeits and grey-market alternatives.