News & market updates

AIA Insurance Lanka expanded its annual Poson Safety Programme, saving six lives and providing services to hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, operating free pilgrimage and shuttle trains, deploying 530+ lifeguards, offering health screenings and running environmental clean-ups.

The Colombo Port Health Office, built with a grant from Japan and implemented by the IOM, was inaugurated on 28 July 2026 to strengthen Sri Lanka's port health infrastructure and emergency preparedness. The compact facility used a pre-engineered hybrid building system and advanced, corrosion-resistant façade materials to suit the marine environment.

The Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association (SLPMA) at its AGM reaffirmed the need for a national strategic roadmap to build pharmaceutical self-reliance and global competitiveness, noting a ~USD 600m market and local firms supplying just 5% of private demand. Dinesh Athapaththu was elected SLPMA president and the association urged predictable policy and transitional measures, including the Guaranteed Buyback Scheme, to attract investment and expand exports.

Siddhalepa Ayurveda products and Siddhalepa Ayurveda Health Resort each won awards at the GlobalHealth Sri Lanka Awards 2026, receiving recognition for herbal wellness/functional nutrition and holistic health and wellness service provision respectively at the gala held on 21 July 2026 in Colombo.

SLPMA President Dinesh Athapaththu urged the government to establish a stable, long-term pharmaceutical buyback scheme to attract investment and expand domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing. He also called for streamlined raw-material import approvals and consistent investment incentives to cut delays, lower costs and boost innovation and exports.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, commended Sri Lanka's International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS) for developing a globally ready health and social care workforce, highlighting its combination of academic excellence, practical clinical training and alignment with UK care standards.

Siddhalepa's Ayurveda product range won the 'Excellence in Herbal Wellness & Functional Nutrition in Sri Lanka' award and Siddhalepa Ayurveda Health Resort was named 'Holistic Health & Wellness Service Provider of the Year' at the GlobalHealth Sri Lanka Awards gala in Colombo on 21 July 2026.

SLPMA President Dinesh Athapaththu urged a national policy push to transform Sri Lanka's pharmaceutical manufacturing into a major export industry, calling for a multi-stakeholder task force, faster regulation and investment incentives. He outlined five strategic priorities including quality, innovation, skills collaboration and building a supporting pharma ecosystem.

Fems debuted its #WATCHME fashion-led initiative on 16 July at CCWE Fashion Week and extended it into public spaces at Havelock City Mall, using runway looks and message cards to challenge menstrual myths and raise awareness of menstrual health in Sri Lanka.

Sampath Bank (via its Employees' Union and Sustainability Unit) supported essential upgrades at Lady Ridgeway Hospital, refurbishing a blood-filtration machine, installing air-conditioning in the physiotherapy unit, adding directional signboards and child-friendly decorations.

Hemas Holdings' Hemas Hospitals and Adora Cosmetic Centre won seven national honours at the GlobalHealth Sri Lanka Awards 2026 — the highest number by any hospital group, with awards across cosmetic & plastic surgery, laser treatments, urology, ambulatory care and corporate wellness.

Sri Lanka is establishing a WHO-supported wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES) programme, including poliovirus monitoring, with a phased pilot of at least 12 months and Pandemic Fund backing through 2028. A WHO mission recommended governance, sampling, lab capacity and data-integration steps, noting MRI lab readiness and EPINET as a data foundation.

India's assistance to Sri Lanka has exceeded $7.5 billion, including more than $850 million in grants. The aid has supported projects across all 25 districts in infrastructure, housing, health, education, agriculture, renewable energy, railways and industrial development.

JAT Holdings PLC will donate LKR 10,000 to the Indira Cancer Trust for every six hit by the Dambulla Sixers for the remainder of the 2026 Lanka Premier League. The cumulative contribution will be presented after the tournament and updates will be shared on JAT and Dambulla Sixers digital platforms.

Siddhalepa Group reconstructed and handed over a new flower stall complex along the access road to the Katharagama Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya. The project, a tribute to founder Dr Victor Hettigoda, aims to preserve cultural heritage and support local women’s sustainable livelihoods.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will host a business networking session with a 30-member Indian Chamber of Commerce delegation on 28 July at the Hilton Colombo Residences to connect Sri Lankan firms with Indian companies. Participating sectors include manufacturing, construction, healthcare, IT, renewable energy and tourism.

Ceylon Chamber will host a business networking session with a 30-member Indian Chamber of Commerce delegation on 28 July at the Hilton Colombo Residences, offering Sri Lankan firms opportunities to explore trade, investment and partnerships across sectors including manufacturing, construction, healthcare, IT, renewables and tourism.

Boards and regulators are urged to treat cybersecurity as a governance priority — giving CISOs stronger board access, mandatory incident reporting and minimum standards — because breaches can disrupt hospitals, payments systems and critical infrastructure.

Ceylinco Life (Ceylinco Holdings PLC) had 32 green branch buildings by end-2025 that generated ~1.12 GWh of solar energy, harvested 3.08M litres of rainwater and recycled 1.386M litres of water. The company says it has embedded ESG across investments, operations and products and plans to expand renewables and green branches.

Hemas Holdings (HHL.N0000) says it has recovered 2.9 million kg of plastic by end-FY2025/26 as part of its Environmental Agenda 2030, pursuing plastic neutrality by 2030 while improving water efficiency, expanding renewables and scaling social/health initiatives.

Sri Lankan businesses are increasingly treating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as a strategic driver of innovation, employee retention and investor confidence. Inclusive policies, transparent reporting and supply-chain labour standards are highlighted as ways to boost competitiveness and attract responsible investment.

Ceylon Chamber will host a Business Networking Session with a 30-member Indian Chamber of Commerce delegation on 28 July 2026 at the Hilton Colombo Residences to explore trade, investment and partnerships across sectors including construction, healthcare, IT, renewable energy, tourism and food processing.

New Anthoney's is scaling antibiotic-free Harithahari chicken to counter routine antibiotic use in Sri Lanka's poultry, where a study found 98% of farms use antimicrobials and tetracycline resistance reached 81.8%.

Union Bank of Colombo (UBC.N0000) hosted Pensioners' Day and launched a competitive pension loan of up to Rs. 8 million at the bank's lowest interest rates, including Rs. 30,000 in annual PickMe rides for government pensioners. The event included partners such as Nawaloka Hospitals providing health screenings and services.

Asian stocks rose, led by a rebound in semiconductor shares as MSCI's Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index gained 1.2% and South Korea's Kospi jumped over 6%. Brent crude nudged to $91.55/bbl and markets are focused on upcoming US earnings and central bank meetings.

Joseph Fraser Ninewells launched ParentX, Sri Lanka's first dedicated postpartum retreat, offering personalised breastfeeding support, newborn care education, physiotherapy, nutrition planning, emotional wellness counselling, Ayurveda-inspired therapies and partner guidance for post-birth recovery.

Indocopters will install Loft Dynamics' Airbus H125 VR full-motion simulator in India, creating South Asia's first dedicated H125 VR training site and expanding pilot training capacity for operators in Sri Lanka and the region. The simulator supports emergency, high-altitude and mission-specific training.

Union Bank (UBC.N0000) launched a competitive pension loan of Rs 8 million at the lowest interest rates while hosting a Pensioners' Day offering health screenings and benefits, including Rs 30,000 in annual PickMe rides for government pensioners; Nawaloka Hospitals participated as a partner.