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.
Dialog Axiata signed a partnership with Ria Money Transfer to let senders abroad send funds directly to eZ Cash wallets, benefiting over 20 million Sri Lankans. Recipients can withdraw cash at 55,000+ eZ Cash outlets or via Commercial Bank ATMs using mobile number and PIN.
Sri Lanka's Ambassador to ESCAP, H.E. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, reaffirmed at the 5th Session of ESCAP's ICT Committee (2-4 Sept 2026) Sri Lanka's commitment to an inclusive, secure, people-centred digital transformation, citing the Digital Economy Strategy 2025-2030 and support for Digital Public Infrastructure and the APIS Action Plan 2027-2030.
Commercial Bank of Ceylon received the National Credit Guarantee Institution's 2,000th guarantee; the bank has around 600 NCGIL-backed facilities totalling Rs.2.97 billion, about one-third of the scheme, supporting MSME lending and women‑led businesses.
Colombo Stock Exchange indices were down midday, with the ASPI falling 0.36% to 21,544.91 and the S&P SL20 down 0.29% at 6,049.00; market turnover was 720.4 million rupees. Nations Trust Bank said it is seeking to raise 13.8 billion rupees via a rights issue priced at 305 rupees per share.
DFCC Bank signed an MoU with John Keells IT to extend its Employee Banking Proposition to John Keells IT employees, offering enhanced salary account privileges, personal and home loan solutions, wealth and family-focused services and digital banking convenience.
Ceylinco General Insurance has partnered with BNPL platform KOKO to launch a customised medical insurance product for KOKO customers, offering up to USD 40,000 cover under the Ceylinco Suwa Sampatha plan. The digital-first policy emphasises accessibility, affordability and easy activation within the KOKO app.
Seylan Cards has partnered with City of Dreams Sri Lanka to present 'This Is Michael: Relive the Legend' on 8-9 Nov 2026, offering Seylan cardholders 20% off for Visa Infinite/Signature/World and 15% off for other cards plus a 'Swipe & Win' promotion with VIP ticket prizes.
Euro Motors has relaunched its dedicated Spare Parts Showroom at Colombo 10, providing genuine spare parts for its vehicle brands with easy ordering, bundle offers and doorstep delivery within 24 hours on working days. The showroom serves individual owners, corporate customers, fleet operators and insurers seeking parts for passenger vehicles and trucks/buses.
ABC Trade and Investment Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding with the All-China Environment Federation to develop water-management and clean/renewable-energy projects in Sri Lanka, aiming to channel Chinese technology, engineering expertise and potential capital into local water and clean-energy infrastructure.
Hatton National Bank (HNB) was ranked among Sri Lanka's Most Valuable Brands for 2026 with a brand value of Rs. 25.4 billion. Banking dominated the Top 10 with six banks and the sector accounted for 42% of total brand value (Rs. 275 billion, +14% YoY).
CIO Confluence 2026 will be held on 9 September at Cinnamon Life, bringing together senior technology and business leaders from Sri Lanka's banking sector to discuss 'Beyond Digital: The Intelligent Banking Era' and the move to intelligent, data-driven banking transformation.
Seylan Bank (SEYB.N0000) won two Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026 as Sri Lanka's Best Bank for Customer Experience and Best Bank for SMEs. The bank said the recognitions reflect its digital platforms and SME-focused products and support, including retained customer-experience recognition from 2025.
Colombo-based Digibrush Productions ranked No.5 among Asia‑Pacific’s Most Effective Independent Agency Offices and No.24 globally in the 2025 Effie Index. The agency, which serves clients across telecommunications, FMCG, apparel, finance and real estate, marked a milestone in its international recognition.
The Colombo bourse opened marginally higher as the ASPI rose 0.01% to 21,623.66 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.13% to 6,066.55; turnover was over Rs.2.1bn and foreigners were net sellers of Rs.18.5m. Top positive contributors: HAYL, ACL, SLTL, HNB, DIAL; negatives: BREW, CARS, HAYC, JKH, CCS.
CPA Australia President Prof. Dale Pinto said Sri Lanka is one of CPA Australia's most exciting growth markets and has potential to become a regional hub for finance, shared services and professional expertise. He noted Sri Lankan membership rose from 400 to 600 in two years and highlighted partnerships with CA Sri Lanka and CMA Sri Lanka.
JICA and Sri Lanka's Agriculture Department will host 33 participants from 11 Asian countries from Sept 7-11 to showcase the SHEP smallholder horticulture approach, with study visits to the Dedicated Economic Center in Keppetipola and SHEP farmer groups in Nuwara Eliya to learn market-oriented practices.
Surge acquired a majority stake in IDEA8 to launch Surge Robotics, combining Surge's software, AI and cloud capabilities with IDEA8's embedded-systems and industrial IoT expertise. The new business will target manufacturing, apparel, warehousing and logistics with machine monitoring, predictive maintenance, computer vision and factory automation.
Sri Lanka's Central Bank net-bought US$579 million in August, the largest monthly net absorption since March 2024, bringing net purchases to US$1,484 million in the first eight months of 2026 as it rebuilds foreign reserves to meet IMF targets and upcoming sovereign debt repayments.
Sri Lanka's official reserve assets rose 4.6% to USD 6,905 million at end‑August 2026 (from USD 6,600m in July); foreign currency reserves climbed 5.1% to USD 6,690m and gold reserves increased 9.5% to USD 210m.
Sri Lanka's rupee closed at 328.25/30 to the US dollar on Monday, while government bond yields rose. Shorter paper (15.09.2027) was around 9.55-9.75% and the 15.08.2036 issue closed near 11.85-11.95%.
Fitch assigned People's Leasing & Finance PLC's proposed LKR10 billion five-year subordinated listed debenture a final National Long-Term Rating of 'BBB+(lka)'. Proceeds are intended to strengthen Tier 2 capital; the debenture rating is two notches below PLC's national rating.
Sri Lanka People's Leasing & Finance PLC's proposed LKR10 billion five-year subordinated listed debenture has been assigned a final National Long-Term Rating of 'BBB+(lka)' by Fitch; proceeds are planned to bolster Tier 2 capital and maintain capital adequacy.
Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat; ASPI rose 0.01% to 21,623.66 and S&P SL20 was up 0.23%. Market turnover was LKR 2.133bn, led by banks (LKR 473.3m) and insurance (LKR 412.3m). Top movers: ACL, SLTL, HNB, DIAL up; HAYC, JKH, CCS down.
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.
Thailand will remove Sri Lanka from its visa‑exemption list, requiring Sri Lankan ordinary passport holders to obtain a visa for tourist entry from September 15, 2026. Travelers arriving on or before September 14, 2026, can still enter visa‑free for up to 60 days under current rules.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said he expects the Supreme Court to rule in favour of the proposed 22nd Amendment, after which the government will take it to Parliament; the change would extend the retirement age of higher court judges. He said the amendment and steps to recruit judicial staff and clear case backlogs are intended to strengthen anti‑corruption measures.