News & market updates

Exterminators PLC founder Marlon Ferreira urged an urgent shift from thermal fogging to Integrated Mosquito Management and promoted the company's AI-powered monitoring and sustainable mosquito-control solutions to better tackle rising dengue risk.

More than 90 students from Don Bosco Institute's civil engineering, nursing and hotel & tourism management faculties graduated on April 10, with most reportedly securing jobs before the convocation. The institute is accredited up to NVQ Level 6 and serves about 250 students across six faculties.

Ninewells Hospital broke ground on a new building to expand surgical capabilities, patient care environments and medical infrastructure, aiming to increase capacity and specialised services in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's 15th census shows a shrinking workforce and ageing population: total fertility rate fell to 1.3, median age rose to 35, elderly (60+) are 18% of the population and 52.7% of working-age people are economically inactive.

Three Sinha Industries Ltd was awarded the SLIA Product Award of Merit on 27 February 2026 for its locally manufactured Clean Room Door, recognised for durability, hygiene control and suitability for healthcare, laboratory and industrial clean rooms.

Royal Nursing Home served as platinum sponsor for a medical and legal community service camp for over 500 people at Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda on March 28, investing nearly LKR 3 million; the event provided medical consultations, legal aid and welfare distributions.

Sri Lanka's recovery from Cyclone Ditwah has slowed, with more than 149,000 people still displaced and $23.4m pledged of the $35.3m required for the humanitarian plan. OCHA warns rising fuel and energy costs, supply-chain disruptions, heat-reduced hydro output and funding gaps risk food security, livelihoods, tourism and resettlement.

BOI held a full-day FDI promotion session with a 15-member Malaysian delegation to showcase ready projects, land and infrastructure for immediate investment, drawing interest in ICT/data centers, solar renewable energy, manufacturing, FMCG, agri-processing and tourism.

Swinburne University of Technology Australia sent a delegation of academics to Sri Lanka to brief students on global opportunities and evolving education across business, health sciences, engineering and IT. They stressed adaptability, industry integration, digital/AI skills, sustainability and renewable-focused training.

EDB convened CPC and a broad cross-section of exporters to address fuel accessibility and distribution bottlenecks; CPC agreed to facilitate direct dialogue to establish a reliable, prioritized fuel supply mechanism for export-oriented industries including apparel, electronics and pharmaceuticals.

The EDB convened a high-level meeting with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and export industry stakeholders to tackle fuel distribution problems affecting exporters; CPC agreed to engage directly with the private sector to improve prioritised and coordinated fuel supply.

Morison, a subsidiary of Hemas Holdings, invested LKR 4 billion in a world‑class Pitipana manufacturing facility and is shifting focus to build branded, high‑quality affordable pharmaceuticals with EU‑GMP targets and export ambitions. Management cites policy, regulatory consistency and tax reforms as key enablers for long‑term viability.

Sri Lanka and Brazil agreed to elevate bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2030. They also committed to finalising MoUs and technical cooperation projects in areas including dairy/livestock, sugarcane, agriculture, ports and shipping, and traditional/Ayurvedic medicine.

National Savings Bank and the International Institute of Health Sciences signed an MoU under which NSB will provide accessible student loan facilities to support enrollment in IIHS healthcare degree and foundation programs, widening local access and reducing overseas education-related FX outflows.

Cap Snap Lanka Ltd. received six international certifications — including FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 — awarded within six months. The plastics and rigid-packaging firm serves over 250 brands and operates two production plants.

Asian stocks slumped as Brent crude rose 3% to $115.98, bringing monthly gains near 60% and raising inflation and recession risks. Markets have priced in higher Fed tightening and sovereign yields have jumped, pressuring energy, manufacturing, logistics, retail and financial sectors.

National Savings Bank signed an MoU with the International Institute of Health Sciences to provide student loan facilities for IIHS healthcare degree and foundation programmes, aiming to widen local access to international qualifications and reduce overseas education expenditure.

Sands Active Private Limited showcased its pharmaceutical product range, including paracetamol brand Meldol which saw notable demand, at the Medicare International Healthcare Exhibition 2026 at BMICH, Colombo. Company reps also held public awareness sessions and highlighted compliance with WHO and EU‑GMP standards.

Cap Snap Lanka Pvt. Ltd. received six international certifications, including FSSC 22000 (ISO 22000, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, GMP, HACCP), all secured within six months. The company is a leading plastic packaging manufacturer with two plants and supplies over 250 brands and a subsidiary serving paints, pharmaceuticals, dairy, beverages and detergents.

MendisOne launched the Darshi & Rohitha Foundation on 23 Feb 2026 to formalize its philanthropic work, focusing on education, environmental sustainability, youth empowerment, healthcare and sanitation; initial actions included donating 12 green boards and renovating Maw Sevana dormitories.

China opened the world's first smart elder-care robot station in Beijing — a four-storey, ~1,100 sqm facility with over 40 types of robots offering dining, rehabilitation and healthcare services and capacity for 300+ visitors daily. Separately, Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital's 1,001-bed 'Presidential Suite' was ordered opened for public use.

The Supreme Court found ex-Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and several officials guilty over procurement breaches under the 2022 Indian Credit Line, ordering Rambukwella to pay Rs.75 million and four other officials to pay Rs.50 million each to the State.

Healthguard Distribution (Sunshine Group) invested Rs. 300 million to upgrade its Colombo Western Regional Distribution Centre into an 18,000 sq ft hub, doubling cold storage to 30 CBM and supporting a network of 4,500 customer points with 97% next‑day delivery.

Horana Plantations PLC (HOPL.N0000) has established a full-time MBBS-led primary care unit at Gouravila Estate, integrated it into government medicine supply and added transport/ambulance arrangements, improving early diagnosis, referrals and continuity of care for estate workers.

Haleon Lanka partnered with the Sri Lanka Dental Association for World Oral Health Day 2026, running nationwide awareness programs and free dental screening camps that provided professional assessments to over 10,000 participants. The campaign highlighted Sensodyne’s focus on dental sensitivity and the company says it will continue initiatives throughout the year.

Two Sri Lankan innovators — Dr. Dhanushi Hettiarachchi and Keerthi Kodithuwakku — were selected for the Chevening CRISP Fellowship at St. Cross College, University of Oxford. Keerthi is a biomedical technopreneur and CEO of Jendo Innovations; Dr. Dhanushi is a medical doctor and AI-in-healthcare entrepreneur focused on diabetic retinopathy screening.

Sri Lanka and Brazil agreed to elevate bilateral trade to USD 1 billion by 2030. They also committed to finalise pending MoUs (including on traditional/Ayurvedic medicine), and to sign Dairy Livestock and Sugarcane technical cooperation projects while exploring cooperation in agriculture, ports and tourism.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has begun renovation of Ward No.03 at De Soysa Hospital for Women, which handles about 2,500–3,000 deliveries and 4,000–5,000 admissions annually. The project is funded and implemented by the bank's Social Responsibility Trust as part of its Women’s Month initiatives.

Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General was the Official Insurance Partner of Medicare 2026 (6–8 Mar 2026, BMICH), engaging over 10,000 visitors and showcasing its Mediplus and Medi60 health insurance products to promote affordable coverage.

Joseph Fraser Hospital has upgraded its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with advanced ventilators, monitoring, incubators and a family‑centred care model to support premature and high‑risk infants. The hospital also upgraded maternal HDU, blood bank, labour suites and operating theatre.