News & market updates

DIMO Healthcare (Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC) hosted the Varian Technology Symposium in Sri Lanka to promote advanced radiation therapy and encourage adoption of LINAC systems. Varian technology is already deployed at institutions including Asiri Surgical Hospital, and DIMO is the local Varian distributor with aftersales support.

DIMO, Tokyo Cement (TKYO) and Hayleys (HAYL) are sponsors and exhibitors at the Jaffna International Trade Fair 2025 (24–26 Jan), the 15th edition expecting over 100,000 visitors and showcasing construction, consumer goods, tourism, ICT, agriculture and related industries.

Sri Lanka's nutrition has worsened as food inflation and income losses have cut access to nutritious foods; redirecting tobacco and alcohol spending to food could raise daily calories for the poorest by up to 19.1% (from 1,792 kcal to 2,134 kcal). The author urges fiscal, regulatory and social measures (taxation, awareness, transfers) to make nutritious diets more affordable and accessible.

CID will record statements from 18 former cabinet ministers, including ex-President Ranil Wickremesinghe and ex-PM Dinesh Gunawardena, over approval of imports of 182 types of substandard drugs. The primary suspect remains in custody receiving treatment, remand continued and the case resumes on 25 November.

TBS Niduwara College of Nursing held a graduation ceremony in Kandy, awarding certificates to 80 students who completed the NVQ Level 03 Caregiving course. The college, operated under the TBS Group, also awarded 10 hotel management diplomas and runs campuses in Kandy and Kadawatha.

Asiri Hospital Holdings (ASIR.N0000) inaugurated the new main campus of Asiri Academy of Health Sciences in Ward Place, Colombo 7, and commenced operations at the modern facility. The academy will offer nursing and allied health programs with extensive clinical exposure via Asiri's six hospitals (800 beds) and plans program expansion.

Hemas Holdings said Sri Lanka's pharmaceutical industry recorded volume growth in the September quarter, the first since the 2022 crisis, driven by local manufacturers and lower-cost products such as diabetic drugs and vitamins.

Dilip Fonseka of Ceylon Pharma College won the "Revolutionary Thinker in Pharmacy and Education" award at Asia's Icon Awards; the college has grown from 10 to over 3,000 students since 2020 and offers three courses plus a Digital Pharmacy portal for practical training.

Hemas Holdings reported Q3 revenue of Rs 28.9bn (down 3.1%) and net profit of Rs 1.5bn (up 23.7%), saying a stronger rupee and lower commodity prices prompted aggressive price cuts in consumer categories. Gross profit rose to Rs 9.1bn and finance costs fell 58% as interest rates eased.

Finance Ministry and Central Bank support a phased, regulated reopening of vehicle imports to balance demand and mitigate foreign-exchange impacts; the Finance Ministry will publish import specifications soon.

Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court acquitted Kurunegala Teaching Hospital gynaecologist Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen of all charges from his 2019 arrest, citing insufficient evidence on the Attorney General’s advice. The Public Service Commission had earlier closed its inquiry and he was reassigned as Senior House Officer.

Inovartic Investment Lanka Ltd. launched the Abu Dhabi University Graphene Centre in partnership with Abu Dhabi University and SLINTEC to advance graphene research and commercialisation across electronics, medical devices, EV batteries, water treatment, agriculture and energy.

DIMO Healthcare installed the Siemens Healthineers SOMATOM go.Sim CT Simulator at Ceylinco Cancer Centre in Sri Lanka. The AI-enabled simulator provides advanced CT imaging, automated workflows and low-dose protocols to improve radiation therapy planning and patient outcomes.

The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka will host ReproSex 2024, an international conference on sexual and reproductive health, on 5–6 Nov at BMICH with an expected 350 delegates and 130 abstracts from 20 countries. The program includes a keynote, five plenaries and 16 parallel sessions.

Mediclinic in Wellawatte has rebranded as MyClinic by Hemas Hospitals, operating under Hemas Hospitals' partnership with extended OPD hours (7am–7pm) and expanded services; the centre offers rapid lab results within 2 hours, doorstep sample collection and additional consultant, wound, eye and dental care.

Chinese Ambassador Qi pledged China will fully consider the development needs of Sri Lanka's new government and improve the pertinence and effectiveness of China Aid training programs; the programs have trained over 1,000 Sri Lankans and cover 17 areas including IT and health.

IHH Patient Assistance Centre Sri Lanka has partnered with Fairfirst Worldwide HealthCare Insurance to expand Sri Lankan patients' access to advanced medical care in Singapore. The collaboration will streamline referrals to Mount Elizabeth, Mount Elizabeth Novena, Gleneagles and Parkway East hospitals and provide comprehensive insurance coverage to ease financial barriers.

Over 150 NGOs have urged world governments to act to end war crimes in Gaza, citing UN and ICJ findings and reporting more than 43,000 Palestinian deaths, widespread destruction of health services, and severe restrictions on food, medicine and humanitarian aid.

Israeli Knesset on 28 October voted to ban UNRWA operations, a move MSF says will severely disrupt humanitarian aid and health services in Gaza and the West Bank — UNRWA provides over 15,000 daily consultations and is the largest health provider for more than half of Gazans.

The International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS) was recognised as one of Sri Lanka’s Best Employer Brands by the Employer Branding Institute for excellence in HR, talent management and innovation; CEO Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe received the award.

The 22nd Middle East Organic and Natural Product Expo will run at Dubai World Trade Centre from Nov 18–20, 2024 with over 550 exhibitors—nearly double 2023’s ~300—and visitor numbers expected to exceed last year’s 12,000.

The Ceylon Chamber and the Sri Lanka–Greater Mekong Business Council led a business promotion mission to Thailand (16–19 Oct 2024) to maximise benefits from the Sri Lanka–Thailand FTA (effective Jan 2025); delegates included Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC and Senkadagala Finance Company PLC to explore trade, FDI and sector partnerships.

A Sri Lankan business delegation visited Thailand to explore partnerships and investments ahead of the Sri Lanka–Thailand free trade agreement taking effect in January 2025, focusing on tourism, healthcare, agriculture, logistics and food & beverage sectors.

MSF held Scientific Days – Asia 2024 on 25 Oct 2024 at the India Habitat Centre, bringing together over 200 researchers, academics and patient representatives to advance humanitarian medical innovation. Sessions focused on antimicrobial resistance, health inequities, the human cost of violence and climate-health intersections, emphasizing community-led and localized interventions.

Motadata has appointed Zeal Sri Lanka as its first Platinum partner in Sri Lanka; Zeal has signed a leading private bank to implement Motadata solutions covering over 8,000 licenses and plans to expand across banking, telecommunications, healthcare and government.

Nawaloka Hospitals PLC won the Merit award in the Hospital Sector at the National Business Excellence Awards 2024. The award coincides with the hospital reporting its 500th kidney transplant this year and a total of 542 transplants from 2012 to June 2024.

Ninewells has launched Yatra – Inspired Living, a 20-acre senior living development offering modern self-contained accommodations and 24/7 on-site medical care managed by Ninewells Hospital, with amenities including a restaurant, gym, pool and wellness programs.

Nawaloka Hospitals PLC is offering free breast screening sessions and a 25% discount on mammograms throughout October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The hospital says screenings will use its AI-enhanced radiology scans to aid early detection.