News & market updates

The Government has barred locally qualified G.C.E. A/L students from enrolling in KDU's Medical Degree this year, cancelling planned intakes and causing an estimated Rs. 2 billion income loss to KDU. Many students are expected to study medicine overseas, increasing forex outflows.

Nawaloka Hospitals PLC launched an AI-powered OPD chatbot (NASHA) and an integrated corporate chatbot on its website to improve patient interaction and service efficiency. The platform-agnostic tools are designed to enhance productivity, operational efficiency and personalized care.

AuroraRCM launched a nationwide initiative and first-of-its-kind RCM101 workshop series, drawing over 400 students at NSBM, to develop the next generation of healthcare technology and RCM professionals in Sri Lanka. The program follows an MoU with NSBM and partnerships with six other universities to provide internships and placements.

Dr. Sachini Aththanayaka, Director of Sayora Healthcare (Pvt) Ltd, won the Excellency Award in the Beauty, Health and Wellness Services category at the Entro Queen Excellence – Leading Lady in Business Award 2025. Sayora Healthcare provides integrated services including modern and natural aesthetics, Ayurveda, pharmaceuticals, laboratory services, physiotherapy and more.

A new Sri Lankan study of 6,300 adults found only 20% of adults with hypertension had their blood pressure under control in 2019. Only 53% had ever been diagnosed and 44% were treated; control was worse in men and in Tamil and Muslim Sri Lankans, and public sector patients had better control than private.

US President Donald Trump said he will sign an executive order to institute a 'most favoured nation' policy for pharmaceuticals, claiming US prescription drug prices will be reduced by 30–80% and that prices will be equalized (and rise) globally.

Cabinet approved procurement of 30,000 vials of 50 mg liposomal Amphotericin B for Rs. 194.26 million, awarding the contract to M/s Slim Pharmaceuticals Ltd, with the drug supplied by Gufic Bioscience Ltd (India) after international competitive bidding.

Cabinet approved awarding a contract to Zodiac Medicals (local representative of Zimmer Inc.) for 1,000 Total Knee Replacement component sets at a 2% discounted price after only one bid; bids will be recalled for the remaining 2,000 sets under a limited international rebid.

Siddhalepa has made its Supirivicky oral health awareness campaign a continuous island-wide program, distributing Supirivicky toothpaste at sessions across Sri Lanka. The herbal, SLS 275-compliant toothpaste is patented locally and a German study reported reductions in gingival inflammation and plaque.

SLT-MOBITEL hosted a Health Camp in early May 2025 at its Gampaha regional office, providing free medical services to over 350 residents and offering online consultations via eChannelling. The event was held under its 'Sambandiyawe Dahami Sathkaraya' CSR and ESG programme.

Seylan Bank’s Seylan Harasara offers senior citizens discounts including up to 20% off at Asiri Hospitals and reimbursements up to Rs.200,000 on surgical expenses, plus pension loans up to Rs.5 million and other benefits through partner discounts.

US buyers are delaying decisions to shift sourcing out of Sri Lanka pending clarity on a proposed 44% US tariff, while a reduced 10% duty is currently in effect and buyers are pressuring exporters to share the cost. Exporters, notably rubber glove and tyre makers, report no immediate cancellations but warn volumes could fall in late 2025 if tariffs remain high.

Peradeniya Veterinary Teaching Hospital has formally adopted Dr. Paw, developed by Pet Care Solutions Lanka, as its official digital veterinary hospital management system. The platform—beta-tested at PVTH since 2023 and provided free to the hospital—offers EHR, telemedicine, appointment scheduling and analytics.

Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation launched a children's book on dementia (available in Sinhala, Tamil and English) and will run a three-month nationwide awareness campaign including school readings and library distributions. A digital version and a new LAF website will support access and outreach.

Grand Leisure Care and Wellness Resort has opened in Kochchikade, Negombo, as a luxury aged-care facility combining resort-style accommodation with 24/7 doctors and nurses, wellness programmes, private rooms and family visitor accommodation for short-term recovery and long-term residence.

Sri Lanka adopted a strategic, non‑committal stance in talks with the US to preserve competitive access for exporters (notably apparel and rubber) and flagged energy as a priority for deeper trade ties. A 44% reciprocal tariff was suspended for three months with a 10% baseline; further discussions are expected.

Asiri Hospital Holdings' Asiri Central Hospital performed its first pediatric Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) surgery under a new Congenital Heart Surgery Program, funded by the government's Suraksha Insurance Plan. The operation, done in collaboration with Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, aims to reduce waiting lists and expand pediatric cardiac capacity.

Two Curtin University Colombo Mechatronics students showcased innovations at Sahasak Nimavum 2025: Rovindu Tharin presented patent-pending 'LightSwap' to recover solar energy lost to shading, and Amithnal Herath presented 'SMARTNAV', an autonomous eye-controlled wheelchair with SLAM and EOG integration.

Colombo Stock Exchange will introduce the GSS+ Bonds Regulatory Framework effective March 2025, replacing 'Sustainability Bonds' with a broader GSS+ category and aligning issuance rules with ICMA. The framework also strengthens verification (e.g., Second Party Opinions/Certifications) to support capital raising for environmental and social projects.

Colombo Stock Exchange launched the GSS+ Bonds Regulatory Framework, replacing 'Sustainability Bonds' with a broader GSS+ category aligned with ICMA and adding enhanced verification (e.g., Second Party Opinion/Certification) to support issuance of green, blue, social, sustainability and sustainability-linked bonds.

Imran Furkan has been appointed as a Non-Executive Independent Director of Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC and Asiri Surgical Hospital PLC. He is an experienced board advisor with a focus on medical tourism and risk/strategy, and currently holds senior roles including CEO of Tresync and directorships at other firms.

Imran Furkan was appointed an independent non-executive director of Asiri Surgical Hospital PLC and Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC, effective April 21, the companies said in a stock exchange filing.

Nawaloka Hospitals is the Official Healthcare Partner for the Sri Lanka Super Series 2025, which was launched on 23 April 2025 with BetSS.com as title sponsor; the series will stage multiple races across the year and be broadcast live.

IIHS's Foundation in Biological Studies provides an O/L-to-university pathway into global health careers, with over 1,000 students already progressing to universities in Australia, the UK and Finland. The programme is aligned to international standards and includes science, academic skills and digital health training.

Flash Health won Runner-Up in the World Summit Awards 2025 (Health & Wellbeing) for its Flash Health Cashless OPD. The Cashless OPD enables employer-provided outpatient care without out-of-pocket costs and is aimed at expanding affordable digital healthcare access across South Asia.

UAE Deputy PM Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan pledged UAE support to promote energy, tourism, foreign investment and foreign employment in Sri Lanka during an official visit and welcomed a trilateral MOU for Trincomalee as an energy hub. A UAE–Sri Lanka Joint Business Council MOU was also signed to boost business cooperation.

Colombo market stayed bearish as the ASPI fell 43 points (0.28%) and the S&P SL20 dipped 0.68% on turnover of Rs.991.4m, with foreign net selling of Rs.63.4m. Banking names (COMB, HNB, NDB) and JKH weighed on the index while pockets of interest were seen in CINS, ASIR and COCR and retail interest in PAP, LVEF and LOFC.

McLarens Group hosted the 3M-McLarens Occupational Health and Safety Symposium 2025, drawing over 300 participants from more than 100 companies. The event introduced holographic authenticity stickers on personal safety products to help distinguish genuine 3M items from counterfeits and grey-market alternatives.