News & market updates

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board ran a Technical Exposure and Capacity Building Program alongside THAIFEX–ANUGA ASIA 2026 (24–31 May) in Bangkok, taking 11 export-ready Sri Lankan food & beverage SMEs to gain market, packaging and marketing insights and meet Thai industry bodies.

Sri Lanka used the 10th China–South Asia Expo in Kunming to boost market access, with Yunnan authorities agreeing to provide a 2,000 sq m free warehouse in Kunming for Sri Lankan exporters to store and distribute goods via Chinese e-commerce. The pavilion highlighted tea, spices, coconut products, processed foods, handicrafts and tourism services amid rising participation and trade growth with China.

BeWAXed Sri Lanka is expanding into India with new branches due to open across multiple major metropolitan cities in the coming weeks. The specialized waxing chain, founded by Durga Kenny in 2013, also markets its Goddess Cosmetics line and offers a mobile app for appointments.

Sri Lanka and Thailand plan to deepen trade and investment using the Sri Lanka–Thailand FTA and enhanced B2B engagement, targeting tourism, hospitality, food processing, agriculture, logistics and other sectors to boost bilateral ties and supply‑chain links.

EDB ran a Technical Exposure and Capacity Building Programme alongside THAIFEX–ANUGA ASIA 2026 (24–31 May 2026) in Bangkok for 11 Sri Lankan export-ready food & beverage SMEs. The delegation visited packaging and processing facilities and met Thai industry bodies to gain market, packaging and marketing insights to support export expansion.

Sri Lanka's NCPI inflation rose to 5.4% in May 2026 from 4.7% in April. Food inflation increased to 1.5% and non-food inflation to 8.6%; the 12-month moving average rose to 2.4% and the NCPI was up 1.2% month-on-month.

Softlogic Capital PLC has appointed Imran Furkan to its Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Furkan is CEO of Tresync (Australia) and currently serves on the boards of Asiri Surgical Hospital PLC, Odel PLC and Maharaja Foods PLC.

CARNAGE launched the Carnage Athlete Foundation to develop Sri Lankan athletes and announced three featured athletes, including Sri Lanka national football captain Sujan Perera, to support long-term athlete development and international competition readiness.

Sri Lanka urged Belgian and Luxembourg investors to seize opportunities in infrastructure and green energy, pointing to planned PPP and investment protection reforms and competitively priced land. Officials highlighted Port City expansion, shipbuilding, marinas and agricultural processing as priority sectors for partnerships.

Sarva Colombo appointed Sajith Silva as Chief Executive Officer, promoting him after a 20-year career at the agency during which he led media planning, brand management and client relationships across multiple sectors.

Renuka Agri Foods PLC was among Sri Lankan companies showcasing products at THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2026 (26–30 May) in Bangkok as part of an EDB-organized pavilion to promote food and beverage exports.

Colombo market rose for a second session as the ASPI gained 0.22% to 22,436.14 on turnover above Rs.3.1bn, driven by elevated HNW activity with PKME, Dialog and NDB among top contributors; foreigners were net sellers of Rs.333.3m.

Black Knight (ICL Brands) will be the Title Sponsor of the Ella Archers for the Sri Lanka Padel League Season 2, unveiling the team's official jersey ahead of the tournament running 18–21 June 2026 at Padel House, CR&FC, Colombo.

UK Trade Envoy Lord Hannett will visit Colombo 17–19 June 2026 to hold talks with government ministers and business leaders to deepen UK–Sri Lanka trade and investment ties and promote use of the UK's Developing Countries Trading Scheme zero-tariff access for Sri Lankan exports. He will engage with exporters including the apparel sector, UK firms operating locally, and stakeholders in clean energy, retail, manufacturing and technology.

Manufacturing PMI rose to 56.6 and Services PMI to 56.9 in May, indicating expansion in both sectors. Manufacturing was driven by food & beverages and textiles, while services growth was led by financial, professional services and IT; outlook buoyed by expected tourist arrivals but risks from the Middle East conflict persist.

Sri Lanka launched the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2026–2030 targeting USD 36 billion in export revenue by 2030. The Cabinet-approved plan, prepared by the Ministry and the Export Development Board with ADB support, targets eight priority sectors and upgrades in logistics, customs digitization and SME export readiness.

Delmege Consumer has partnered with Daraz to sell its full range of FMCG products online via a Delmege store on daraz.lk, expanding its digital distribution and enabling islandwide delivery and online offers.

The government presented the National Export Development Plan 2026–2030 to the President, targeting USD 36 billion in export revenue by 2030. The plan names eight priority export sectors (including digital products, electronics, automotive components, processed foods, rubber, minerals and maritime) and sets horizontal enablers such as logistics, trade finance, trade facilitation and ESG capacity building, with ADB technical support.

Sri Lanka launched the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2026–2030 targeting USD 36 billion in export revenue by 2030. The plan sets six cross-sector enablers and eight priority sectors — including auto components, minerals, rubber, marine, spices, digital products, electrical/electronics and processed food — to drive export diversification.

Dividend · Rs 67.50 · XD Jun 25, 2026

First Interim dividend of LKR 67.5/share; XD 2026-06-25; record 2026-06-25; payable 2026-07-15; FY 2026/2027

Sri Lanka's manufacturing PMI rose to 56.6 in May from 42.6 in April, signaling expansion. The increase was driven by food & beverages and textiles production and supported by more working days, although firms noted a challenging operating environment linked to the Middle East conflict.

Fitch Ratings warns the developing El Niño, likely to persist into early 2027, raises the risk of economic disruption for vulnerable sovereigns by intensifying fiscal, growth, inflation and external liquidity pressures. It could also harm crop yields and lift global food prices, worsening inflation risks.

International Distillers Limited (IDL) reopened the renovated Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Office in Kaduwela on 6 May 2026 and presented Enfamama nutritional supplement packages to pregnant mothers attending the clinic.

Finagle Lanka held its Annual Sales Awards on 29 May, recognising 26 sales executives and 45 distribution representatives with awards, cash prizes and opportunities for local and overseas travel for top sales performance.

World Bank cut its global growth forecast to 2.5% for 2026, warned higher energy and fertiliser prices will raise inflation, and is making $50–60bn available immediately (scalable to $80–100bn over 15 months) to support vulnerable countries.

Maliban Biscuits were crowned undefeated champions of the Stafford Motors MCA G Division T20 Tournament 2026, defeating Brandix Apparel by seven wickets in the final after restricting them to 103 and chasing the target with more than three overs to spare.

New Lloyds Products (Pvt) Ltd won a BWIO Award 2026 recognising excellence and innovation in food manufacturing. The company produces noodles, pappadam, sauces and instant foods and promotes its range nationwide via an Instant Food Truck programme.

Lakarcade won the 2026 Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award, placing the Colombo-based gift and souvenir retailer in the top 10% of attractions and hospitality businesses worldwide. The recognition, based on traveller reviews, underscores its appeal to international visitors and shoppers.

C.W. Mackie PLC’s Scan Products Division concluded the 9th Scan Jumbo Bonanza promotion, rewarding 50 winners with mountain bicycles at a June 10, 2026 event, after a five-month campaign reaching over 180 towns.

ADB is providing $4 billion in rapid financing — about $3 billion requested by governments and $1 billion in trade finance — to help countries, including Sri Lanka, withstand fallout from the Middle East conflict. Support includes policy-based loans, trade finance for energy and food imports, and rapid repurposing of existing funds.