ISSO – Prawn Crazy opened a 90-seat flagship in Canary Wharf, London, importing Lion Beer and Lion Stout from Sri Lanka for its launch. The concept pairs automated kitchen tech with a vertically integrated cold chain sourcing export-grade prawns from 150+ artisanal fishermen.
Coca-Cola returns as the official soft drink of FIFA World Cup 2026, extending a nearly 50-year partnership and marking its 140th anniversary. The global "Feel it all" campaign and trophy tour include regional activations for Sri Lanka, where fans will follow matches in the early hours.
TikTok unveiled Symphony Agent at Cannes Lions 2026, an agentic AI for creating TikTok-first campaigns that combines audience insights, trend data and creator sourcing to produce ads at scale. The tool, available in South Asia via Symphony Creative Studio, includes AI labels, invisible watermarks and content moderation.
TUDO.LK has introduced Google Pay Express Checkout, letting customers complete eligible purchases using payment details saved to their Google account for faster, streamlined checkout on supported devices and browsers.
GITA, together with the Indo‑Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has launched an India Trade Desk in Colombo to provide end-to-end, one-to-one advisory and market-entry support for Sri Lankan firms seeking to expand into India. The service targets SMEs and larger firms across textiles, food processing, ICT/BPM, tourism, pharma, logistics, manufacturing and renewable energy.
Visa says its Click to Pay solution will simplify Sri Lankan online checkout by removing manual card entry and using tokenisation to reduce fraud, aiming to increase conversion rates for merchants across retail, travel and digital services.
The Foundation For A Good Life (TFGL) and Good Life X (GLX) launched an eight-month 'Hyacinthesis' accelerator to develop market-ready handicrafts, fashion and home décor from water hyacinth and onboarded six SMEs. The project is engaging government stakeholders to reform the Water Hyacinth Ordinance of 1909 and explore export opportunities.
Government launches national El Niño response, directing ministries to submit contingency plans within two weeks after a 63% assessed probability of a strong El Niño. Plans must cover food, water and energy contingencies and official updates will be issued only by the Department of Meteorology.
Tea & Plantation CropsConsumer Staples (FMCG)Fuel & Energy Prices
Colombo Stock Exchange closed with the ASPI down 0.06% at 22,229.71 while the S&P SL20 rose 0.05% to 6,209.85; market turnover was Rs.1.52bn and capital goods led turnover at Rs.834.9m. Dialog, Melstacorp and Bukit Darah were positive contributors, Aitken Spence, DFCC Bank and Ceylon Tobacco were top decliners, crossings were recorded in Hemas, Windforce and Printcare, and SANASA Life raised Rs.500m via subordinated debentures to meet regulatory capital requirements.
Atlas launched Sri Lanka's first SLS‑certified water bottle, meeting the new national standard for plastic water bottles; certification followed rigorous SLSI testing to assure safety and quality for children's everyday use.
Carson Cumberbatch approved a second interim dividend of Rs.7.40 per ordinary share, totalling Rs.1.45 billion and exempt from withholding tax. Colombo markets were up midday (ASPI +0.08% at 22,260.75) with Dialog, Melstacorp, Sanasa Development Bank and Sampath as top positives and Ceylon Tobacco, DFCC and Aitken Spence as negatives; turnover Rs.388.5mn, capital goods led at Rs.62.4mn.
iPay supported the Central Bank's LankaQR Awareness Programme in Trincomalee on 5–6 June 2026 to promote LankaQR digital payments among tourism merchants in Trincomalee, Uppuveli, Nilaveli and Alles Garden. The company showcased iPay Business solutions and noted its market footprint (50% JustPay share, 1.2m downloads, ~1.8m monthly transactions).
TourismIT & Digital
Daily FT·Jul 1, 2026·Capacity or capex·DIMOPositive
DIMO added 18MW of solar capacity via four new Galle plants, raising its cumulative solar generation to 25.845 MW (AC). The projects are expected to produce about 31.8 million kWh/year, cut ~12,945 tCO2e annually and supply ~37,937 households.
Colombo market opened down 0.65% as the ASPI fell 146.53 points to 22,263.28 with turnover over Rs.1.7bn and foreign net outflow of Rs.466.1m; Windforce, CIC and Hayleys were main negative contributors while Windforce, Colombo Dockyard and Sathosa Motors led turnover.
Headline CCPI inflation rose to 6.8% YoY in June 2026, a three‑year high. CBSL said non-food inflation accelerated to 8.4% and food inflation to 3.6%, raised the policy rate in late May, and expects inflation to remain above the 5% target before easing amid elevated uncertainty from the Middle East conflict.
Colombo Stock Exchange closed marginally lower as the ASPI fell 0.09% (‑19.58 pts) to 22,243.70 while the S&P SL20 rose 0.02% to 6,206.51. Market turnover was Rs 1.070 billion, telecoms led turnover with Rs 247.6 million, and the CSE delayed opening due to a technical issue.
The Shoppes at City of Dreams Sri Lanka hosted Cake Date on 27 June, drawing over 200 guests, about 55 bakers and more than 100 cakes. The community retail event involved partners such as Dilmah and awarded prizes including LKR 50,000 (Elegant Charms) and LKR 100,000 (Spa Ceylon).
Yevan David climbed from 28th to 19th in the FIA F3 Sprint Race at the Red Bull Ring but his Feature Race ended on the first lap after contact; his racing is supported by DIMO and Nations Trust Bank.
Sri Lanka's inflation rose to 6.8% in June 2026, the highest since June 2023 and close to the Central Bank's 7% upper target. The rise was driven by a ~47% fuel price hike and higher food and transport costs; the Central Bank raised its policy rate by 100bp.
Interest RatesFuel & Energy PricesConsumer Staples (FMCG)
Ada Derana·Jun 30, 2026·Capacity or capex·DIMOPositive
DIMO commissioned four solar plants in Galle totalling 18MW, raising its cumulative solar capacity to 25.845 MW (AC). The projects are expected to generate about 31.8 million kWh/year, cut ~12,945 tCO2e annually and supply electricity to ~37,937 households.
Colombo headline inflation rose to 6.8% Y-o-Y in June 2026 (from 5.5% in May), with a 2.1% month-on-month increase driven by food (fish, vegetables) and non-food items amid energy price pass-through. The Central Bank projects inflation to remain above the 5% target near term before easing, with elevated uncertainty due to Middle East tensions.
Interest RatesFuel & Energy PricesConsumer Staples (FMCG)
The government will phase out para-tariffs starting in 2028 — removing 50% of the cess for most products in 2028, a further 25% in 2029 and fully by 2030, while 107 HS codes follow a slower 25%/25%/50% timetable. Customs reforms also include a simplified four-band tariff (0/10/20/30%), greater digitalisation and new non-intrusive scanners to speed clearance.
Sri Lanka cut fuel prices effective June 30: Auto Diesel down Rs25 to Rs382/litre and Octane 92 down Rs20 to Rs414. Prices had risen sharply since Feb, driving up transport and grocery costs and pressuring retailers and logistics.
Fuel & Energy PricesRupee & ForexConsumer Staples (FMCG)
Ada Derana·Jun 30, 2026·Award or certificationPositive
Parenthood Global held the Mom Leaders Conference on 21 May 2026 at Cinnamon Life, recognising Top 10 Most Outstanding Mom-Inclusive Workplaces including Ceylon Tobacco Company, Hemas Holdings, DFCC Bank and National Development Bank; sponsors included Maharaja Foods and others.
TFGL and GLX launched Cohort 1 of Project Hyacinthesis, an eight-month accelerator onboarding six SMEs to develop market-ready handicrafts, fashion and homeware from water hyacinth; the project is engaging government to amend the 1909 ordinance to enable commercial use and export potential.
Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.45% midday to 22,309.09 with turnover of 951.8 million rupees, utilities contributing 448.6 million. Convenience Foods Lanka authorized an 8.00 rupee first-and-final dividend and Tokyo Cement proposed a 2.50 rupee first-and-final dividend.
Consumer Staples (FMCG)Construction ActivityRenewable Energy
The Thailand–Sri Lanka forum highlighted the newly enacted SLTFTA and reported bilateral trade rose 48% to $649m in 2025. Officials said the FTA and related measures should expand market access and investment across logistics, manufacturing, tourism, food processing, IT and healthcare.