News & market updates

Sri Lanka MICE Expo 2025 opened on 23 September at Cinnamon Life, hosting 115+ international MICE and travel operators and expected to facilitate over 10,000 B2B meetings to promote Sri Lanka as a MICE destination.

SLTDA cut Sri Lanka's 2025 tourist arrival forecast to 2.6 million (from 3.0 million) as the SATA 2025 forum in Colombo pushed for regional collaboration, joint marketing and tech-driven, regenerative tourism to boost the sector.

Karma Fight League (KFL 006) will be held at Cinnamon Life on October 11, bringing international fighters and fans to Colombo and expected to boost tourism and hotel demand in the city.

Dividend · Rs 1.00 · XD Sep 23, 2025

First And Final dividend of LKR 1/share; XD 2025-09-23; record 2025-09-23; payable 2025-10-13; FY 31 March 2025

Chandana Amaradasa was elected President of the Australia-New Zealand Business Council (SLANZBC) and urged Australian and New Zealand investment to expand Sri Lanka's tourism capacity, noting only ~9,500 of ~50,000 rooms are 4- and 5-star. Panelists also flagged raising digital economy contribution to 15% of GDP by 2030 and boosting NZ arrivals from 10,000 to 50,000.

Chandana Amaradasa was elected president of the Australia-New Zealand Business Council and urged ANZ investment to expand Sri Lanka's tourism capacity; New Zealand plans to boost arrivals from 10,000 to 50,000 and the government aims to lift the digital economy to 15% of GDP by 2030.

Krishan Balendra, Chairperson of John Keells Holdings, was elected Chairperson of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce at its 186th AGM. He urged preserving reform momentum — including Digital ID, a National Single Window, Customs modernisation and a National Tourism Destination Marketing Plan — to sustain recovery.

Krishan Balendra, head of John Keells Holdings, was elected chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce at its AGM on June 26. Supun Weerasinghe (Dialog) was named vice chairman and the board includes executives from Hayleys and Renuka Hotels.

Krishan Balendra, Chairperson of John Keells Holdings, was elected Chairperson of The Ceylon Chamber at its 186th AGM. He called for continued reforms — including Digital ID, a National Single Window, customs modernization and a National Tourism Destination Marketing Plan — to sustain recovery.

Sri Lanka launched the UAE chapter of the Sri Lanka Conference Ambassador Programme on 29 April 2025 to promote MICE events and attract international conferences to Sri Lanka, boosting demand prospects for local hotel operators and Cinnamon Life’s 160,000+ sq ft MICE space. Ten ambassadors were appointed for 2025/2026.

The Sri Lanka–Italy Business Council and the Italian Embassy hosted a workshop on 'Winning & Retaining Italian Tourists' to discuss Italian traveller preferences and strategies to boost arrivals. Industry leaders and Italian agents discussed personalised itineraries, language issues and service standards to improve Sri Lanka's competitiveness.

Speakers at a Sri Lanka–Italy forum recommended targeting mid-to-high-range Italian tourists (age 40–69) as the key demographic to grow arrivals from Italy, which contributed just 39,000 visitors to Sri Lanka in 2024; digital marketing and combined Sri Lanka–Maldives itineraries were highlighted.

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts has appointed AVIAREPS India to lead its PR and brand positioning in India to attract luxury and experiential travellers, while expanding its portfolio (including Cinnamon Life and new Kandy Myst) amid Sri Lanka's tourism recovery.

Sri Lanka Tourism launched the 'Sri Lanka, A Story for Every Season' influencer-driven campaign to boost summer travel, targeting 2.2 million travel enthusiasts and over LKR 32 million in media coverage. The campaign follows a strong winter peak with 665,295 arrivals by March 23, 2025.

Sri Lanka Agripreneurs Forum hosted a workshop on carbon footprint and climate reporting as SLFRS S1 and S2 have become mandatory for listed companies in Sri Lanka; the event covered emissions measurement, reporting practices and trends in climate finance.

The Lanka India Business Association (LIBA) was launched in Sri Lanka to strengthen business links with India, aiming to boost trade, tourism, tech/start‑ups and exports (including tea and garments). The governing council comprises senior Sri Lankan business leaders from multiple industries.

Sri Lanka Agripreneurs Forum held a workshop on carbon footprint and climate reporting, highlighting that SLFRS S1 and S2 are now mandatory for listed Sri Lankan companies. Experts shared practical guidance on emissions calculations, climate finance and sustainability reporting, and SLAF will expand the series.

Conservation International CEO Dr. M. Sanjayan said Sri Lanka has huge potential to offer the world due to its biodiversity and can align development with conservation. His remarks were made at a 'Create the Future' event co-hosted by Academics Group and JKH Group.

Aloe Blacc arrived in Colombo for a two-day visit and said he is prepared to invest in Sri Lanka, including the tourism sector. He will meet government officials, entrepreneurs in cashew, coconut, organic goods, energy drinks and Ceylon cinnamon, and engage with biotechnology and investment stakeholders.

President Dissanayake said Budget 2025 aims to raise government revenue to 15.1% of GDP and use a three-year debt moratorium under the IMF program to restore debt repayment capacity by 2028. The budget highlights tourism promotion, a port‑centric transshipment hub and rural SME development, measures likely to benefit listed hotels.

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts has opened Kandy Myst by Cinnamon on Feb 12, 2025 — a USD 40 million, 215-room hotel, the largest room inventory in Kandy. The property features a 500-seat buffet restaurant, Kosmos Skybar with infinity pool and Terra Lounge.

A session at the Sri Lanka Economic Summit on 29 Jan will focus on 'Maximising Tourism Potential', targeting USD 8.5 billion in tourist earnings by 2030. Panelists include executives from Cinnamon Hotels and Aitken Spence, with Dialog Axiata among event partners.

The 31st FACETS Gem & Jewellery Show will run 4–6 Jan 2025 at Cinnamon Grand, Colombo, drawing international traders and organisers aiming to help the gem sector reach $1bn in exports; the event is expected to boost tourism and hotel activity in Colombo.

FACETS 2025, the 31st Gem & Jewellery Show, will run 4–6 Jan 2025 at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo and is expected to attract international buyers and visitors, likely boosting hotel demand in Colombo and other tourist areas.

Gem Sri Lanka 2025 will run 7–10 January at Cinnamon Bentota Beach to connect international buyers with Sri Lankan gem traders and boost the gem and tourism sectors. Organisers also unveiled the GSLFAIR app to streamline buyer-seller connections.

Sri Lanka hosted a national pavilion at the World Trade Expo 2024 in Mumbai to promote trade and tourism, where companies showcased value-added cinnamon, coconut, cocoa products, dehydrated fruits and Ceylon tea and established business contacts for future collaboration.

SLITHM and SLCB Chairman Dheera Hettiarachchi criticised holding World Tourism Day 2024 nearly a month late and urged future celebrations be timely, more inclusive and held across different destinations rather than only in Colombo. He said future events should align with the government's people, planet and profit policy.

John Keells Group launched Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, a $1.2bn development opening today with 687 rooms and event venues, and a 113-key Nuwa hotel due mid-2025. The Group expects the full project to generate over 20,000 direct and indirect jobs.