News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange regained nearly 40% of last week's Rs. 424 billion loss as the ASPI rose 2.04% (439.46 pts) to 22,034.32. Top contributors included DOCK, CINS, COMB, SAMP and ACL, with turnover around Rs. 3.88 billion.

UNDP reports Cyclone Ditwah inundated 1.1 million hectares (20% of Sri Lanka) and triggered 1,200 landslides, flooding about 720,000 buildings and impacting over 16,000 km of roads, 278 km of railway and 480 bridges. UNDP warned Sri Lanka cannot shoulder more debt for rebuilding and called for international financing.

Moody’s says Cyclone Ditwah and related flooding will have the most material economic, fiscal and credit impact on Sri Lanka due to limited fiscal capacity and high climate vulnerability. Sri Lanka has requested about $200m from the IMF under a Rapid Financing Instrument and the Fifth Review/$347m tranche was pushed to early 2026.

Sanasa Life Insurance Company PLC's registration to carry out long-term insurance business was suspended by the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka for three weeks from 5 December 2025 to 26 December 2025, according to a CSE disclosure.

The Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka appointed A.N. Hapugala and Dr. Chandranath Amarasekara as Ex-Officio Members. Hapugala succeeds Dilip Silva and Dr. Amarasekara succeeds J.P.R. Karunaratne, reflecting Treasury and Central Bank representation on the Commission.

InsureMe Insurance Brokers Ltd completed its equity introduction and listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange Empower Board, raising capital to support expansion of its digital insurance and claims-automation services.

InsureMe Insurance Brokers Ltd listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange's Empower Board, marking its debut as the sixth company on that board. The digital insurance aggregator said the capital raised will strengthen its capital base to support technology adoption, product diversification and expansion of its digital platforms.

Secondary bond market activity was subdued after Cyclone Ditwah, with short-to-belly yields rising and the yield curve flattening (e.g. 01.08.26 traded at 8.45%). Foreign holdings of rupee government securities rose by Rs.2.92bn to Rs.142.45bn, T-bill rates held steady and USD/LKR closed around 308.55/308.65.

AIA Insurance Lanka secured First Runner-Up overall and was crowned Sector Winner (Insurance) at the 7th CSE Masterminds Quiz 2025 held in Colombo.

Severe weather has killed 607 people and affected over 2.08 million across 25 districts, with 4,164 houses fully damaged and 67,505 partially damaged; 1,211 safety centres are sheltering 152,537 people.

Janashakthi Limited (JXG) held a Holistic Leadership Summit 2025 to promote human-centred leadership, psychological steadiness and talent retention across the Group.

Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma met with the IRCSL and insurers to push for expedited Cyclone Ditwah and flood insurance claim settlements to aid recovery for tourism, SMEs and exporters; IRCSL set up a hotline for policyholders: 077 241 8511.

HNB PLC announced a partnership with Future Automobiles to offer special Ford leasing rates, discounted insurance and complimentary life cover (Rs.600,000 natural death; Rs.4,500,000 accidental), plus dealer discounts, free services and registration for HNB leasing customers.

Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma said the government is coordinating with banks and insurers and has activated nearly Rs.30 billion in emergency budget lines, authorising Rs.7.5 billion for housing to support households, SMEs and businesses hit by Cyclone Ditwah. Authorities have begun a World Bank-backed rapid damage assessment and approved a Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund to guide reconstruction.

Colombo market recouped 30% of Monday’s Rs.240 billion wipe-off as the ASPI rose 1% (219 points), restoring about Rs.72 billion of market cap; top contributors included RICH, CINS, SAMP, BUKI and NDB while capital goods and materials led turnover.

Hatton National Bank (HNB) launched the “Empowering Women, Enabling Entrepreneurship” program on 24 October to provide women-led MSMEs with tailored loans, savings, digital banking, POS, capacity-building, mentorship and insurance support (with HNB Assurance).

THASL President Asoka Hettigoda says Sri Lanka's tourism remains about 75% operational after Cyclone Ditwah, with most hotels open and wildlife parks reopening. THASL urged insurers and banks to prioritise recovery support for SLTDA‑registered hotels, implement visa‑free entry for 47 countries, and allow temporary vegetable imports.

InsureMe Insurance Brokers Ltd. debuted on the Colombo Stock Exchange's Empower Board at Rs. 442 and its shares surged Rs. 2,450 to close at Rs. 2,892.

InsureMe, a Sri Lankan digital insurance aggregator, was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange yesterday as the country’s first insurance intermediary to go public. The company (founded 2016 and IRCSL-licensed) offers InsurTech platforms, reinsurance broking and has launched its DIGIS arm internationally.

Sri Lanka will set up a joint public–private recovery fund to rebuild infrastructure after Cyclone Ditwah and has commissioned the World Bank to carry out a GRADE damage assessment expected within two weeks. A formal disaster declaration has been made to unlock international aid while the government seeks domestic and foreign support.

InsureMe was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange today, becoming Sri Lanka’s first insurance intermediary to go public. The digital InsurTech, founded in 2016 and licensed by the IRCSL, operates an insurance-aggregation platform and tech arm DIGIS and plans further product and market expansion.

Colombo Stock Exchange granted in-principle approval for InsureMe Insurance Brokers Ltd to list 2,055,290 ordinary voting shares on the Empower Board via an introduction (reference price Rs. 442). The company reported FY2025 revenue of Rs.301.6m and net profit of Rs.24.4m, with an asset-light balance sheet, equity of Rs.143.3m and no borrowings.

Colombo market ended a three-day decline as ASPI rose 0.77% (174.03 pts) to 22,819.91 and S&P SL20 gained 0.30% to 6,298.75. Market turnover exceeded Rs.4bn with banking counters (led by Hatton National Bank and DFCC) dominating activity while foreign investors were net sellers of ~Rs.213.2m.

LOLC General Insurance PLC rose to become the 4th largest general insurer in Sri Lanka by end-3Q 2025, recording 17% GWP growth and raising market share to 9.06%. Its Motor segment remains the 3rd largest motor insurer with 23% growth, supported by the LOLC Group ecosystem and digital initiatives.

Hatton National Bank MD/CEO Damith Pallewatte set out HNB's 'Road to 2030', prioritising digitalisation and remittance-capture as growth drivers and citing worker remittances up ~20% y/y to nearly $6.5bn. He urged banks to align with Budget 2025 targets including a 12% digital-economy goal and DPI like SL-UDI and asset registries.

Richard Pieris Finance Ltd said it is forging ahead with resilience and growth, citing steady profitability, portfolio diversification, digital transformation, a new Sarumaga mortgage product and a Fitch 'A(lka) Outlook Stable' rating.

People’s Insurance PLC posted 33% top-line growth in Q3 and reported Profit Before Tax of Rs. 472.64 million for the nine months ended 30 Sep 2025. Motor premiums rose 43% YoY and Non-Motor 9%; total assets grew 10% to Rs. 13.95 billion and shareholders' equity increased 5% to Rs. 5,944.89 million.