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.
Sri Lanka's plantation sector is mobilising climate-resilience measures during an El Niño-linked dry spell as the government sets aside Rs.4.8 billion for relief and raises daily water allocations to 15 litres. Estate firms such as Udapussellawa, Browns (Browns Investments), Kelani Valley and Horana are adopting water-conservation, agroforestry, drought-tolerant practices and solar installations.
An IPS study finds Sri Lanka's agrifood sector contributes 24.5% of GDP and 42.0% of employment and urges development of high-value, export-oriented agribusiness to boost growth and jobs. It identifies six export clusters (cinnamon, spices, coconut products, fruit & vegetable processing, seafood and tea) and notes strong recent export gains.
The National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) warned exporters face certification delays and cost pressures, with tea export earnings down 17.22% YoY to $116.73m in July 2026. It said imported rubber is cheaper than local supplies, hurting value-add, and will boost FTA awareness and run an AI-driven digital marketing programme with NIBM.
Sri Lanka's merchandise exports fell 1% to $1,269.49m in August 2026 year-on-year, led by declines in apparel (down 8.4% to $464.27m), tea (down 7.76% to $130.92m) and coconut-based products (down 17.28% to $104.27m). Total Jan-Aug exports rose 4.26% to $12.01bn.
CBSL Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe urged the plantation sector at the Planters' Association AGM to boost productivity, mechanise, replant and move up the value chain, and warned against unregistered 'Plantations' investment scams. He noted agricultural exports rose to $3.1bn in 2025 and tea production costs climbed to Rs.1,043/kg in 2025.
ExportersTea & Plantation Crops
Ada Derana·Sep 24, 2026·Management or board changePositive
Malwatte Valley Plantations CEO Shanaka Samaradiwakara was appointed Chairman of the Planters' Association and outlined a five-point plan to revive plantations focusing on value addition, R&D, land-use, irrigation and tenure security. Kahawatte Plantations CEO Binesh Pananwala was named Deputy Chairman.
An IPS study finds Sri Lanka's agrifood sector contributes 24.5% of GDP and 42.0% of employment and identifies six high-potential export clusters (cinnamon, spices, coconut, fruit & vegetable processing, seafood, tea). It reports food & beverage manufacturing generates USD 1.85 of output per USD 1 of final demand (vs USD 1.20 for primary agriculture) and recommends boosting high-value, export-oriented agribusiness while addressing tariff, policy and R&D constraints.
Sri Lanka's tea exports fell about 5% year‑on‑year in the first eight months of 2026 to 166.3 Mnkg, with August shipments at 22.8 Mnkg. Rupee earnings held nearly steady at Rs.305.6bn, but US$ earnings slipped to about $948m amid higher freight and insurance costs and a lower average FOB.
Regional Plantation Companies report a record intake of nearly 250 plantation children gaining university admission over the past two years, marking a turning point in sector welfare. RPCs collectively spend about Rs.720 million annually on Child Development Centres, while the Roots to Wings start-up scholarship costs LKR 10-15 million a year to support students through university.
Acting High Commissioner Ruvini De Silva met leaders of the Kenya Tea Growers Association on 15 Sept 2026 to discuss strengthening cooperation in the tea sector and participation in Sri Lanka Expo 2027 (14-17 Jan 2027). Business briefing sessions in Nairobi (25 Sep 2026) and Mombasa (2 Oct 2026) will facilitate B2B linkages and industry engagement.
Regional Plantation Companies, the government and unions report nearly 250 plantation-community children gained university admission over the past two years, a record intake signaling improved sector welfare. RPCs collectively spend about Rs.720 million a year on Child Development Centers and support scholarship schemes (Roots to Wings) to carry students through graduation.
High Grown tea production fell to 3.1 million kg in August 2026, the lowest monthly level in 34 years, cutting total national tea output 3.7% YoY to 18.9 million kg; Jan-Aug cumulative production is 172.2 million kg versus 176.9 million kg a year earlier.
High Grown tea output fell to 3.1 MnKg in August, the weakest monthly High Grown yield since 1992, as national production declined 3.65% YoY to 19 MnKg due to heavy rain and persistent cloud cover, Asia Siyaka and Forbes & Walker data show.
Agarapatana Plantations PLC will seek shareholder approval to redeploy Rs.643.2m of unutilised IPO proceeds toward mechanisation and renewable energy and to extend the utilisation deadline to 30 Sep 2028. Only Rs.29.4m of the Rs.672.6m for factory modernisation was used; the revised plan adds Rs.88m for renewable energy and has a Rs.6.5m shortfall to be met from internal funds.
The Tea Exporters Association held its 27th AGM and reappointed Huzefa Akbarally as chairman for 2026/27. TEA said about 85% of Ceylon Tea shipping routes have been disrupted and freight rates have risen several-fold, yet exports remain resilient and it urged government support to lift production toward 350 million kilos by 2030.
ExportersTea & Plantation Crops
Daily FT·Sep 11, 2026·Award or certificationPositive
Woodland Tea Factory said its 'Woodland Grand' BOPA fetched a record Rs.3,000/kg at the Colombo Tea Auction on 8 Sept; the lot was bought by Shan Tea Ltd and marketed/sold by John Keells PLC.
New Rothschild Tea Factory, managed by Browns Plantations, achieved a record price of Rs. 2,950/kg for PEK1 (Western Medium) at the weekly tea auction on 8-9 Sept. The lot was auctioned by Ceylon Tea Brokers PLC and purchased by Vintage Teas Ceylon Ltd.
The Tea Exporters Association held its 27th AGM, reappointing Huzefa Akbarally as chairman and warning that about 85% of Ceylon Tea shipping routes have been disrupted with freight rates rising several-fold, yet exports remain resilient. TEA urged government support to boost smallholder production, restore brand promotion and export incentives and said the industry could reach 350 million kilos by 2030.
Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe will keynote the Planters' Association of Ceylon's 172nd AGM on 19 Sept, where regional plantation companies will review sector performance and strategies including diversification, replanting, processing upgrades and renewable energy investments.
EDB warns El Niño-driven dry conditions could add pressure to Sri Lanka's agriculture-linked exports, notably tea, vegetables and fruits, after tea export earnings fell 7.53% YoY to $817.53m in Jan-Jul 2026. The EDB is implementing the National Export Development Plan to diversify markets and products across eight priority sectors.
Forbes & Walker Research said the National Tea Sales Average for August 2026 was Rs. 1,174.46/kg, down Rs. 1.64 month-on-month and Rs. 7.81 below August 2025. The year-to-date NSA for Jan-Aug 2026 stood at Rs. 1,165.66/kg, Rs. 9.29 higher than the same period in 2025.
Tea & Plantation Crops
Page 1
That is the last 30 days. Sign in to read back 24 months.