News & market updates

Hambantota International Port doubled its RoRo yard capacity and increased container yard capacity by 30% to handle a surge in shipping volumes triggered by the Middle East crisis. Yard utilisation is at record highs as vessels divert from disrupted routes, reinforcing HIP's role as an alternative transhipment hub near the main East–West route.

Government published the 2026 Governance Action Plan, targeting the Public Procurement Bill for August 2026 and SOE holding-company formation by August with SOE milestones extending to October. The plan also schedules an EPF review by August, asset-management and PPP laws in 2026, and continued digitalisation (e-procurement, land registry) with some rollouts into 2027–28.

Government enacted asset recovery and beneficial ownership laws in 2025 but has delayed the Public Procurement Bill and SOE legislation into 2026; EPF governance reforms are under review with a report due by March 2026. A digital land registry (2.5m parcels) and e-procurement platform are being rolled out.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI closed up 0.04% to 21,126.60 as banking stocks faced selling pressure after NDB disclosed an internal fraud loss of 13.4 billion rupees and trading in NDB was halted. DFCC, Cargills Bank and Access Engineering led gains while Commercial Bank, HNB and Melstacorp were laggards; turnover was Rs.3.029bn.

BOI held a full-day FDI promotion session with a 15-member Malaysian delegation to showcase ready projects, land and infrastructure for immediate investment, drawing interest in ICT/data centers, solar renewable energy, manufacturing, FMCG, agri-processing and tourism.

The World Bank Group and the Government of Sri Lanka launched a five-year Country Partnership Framework mobilizing more than $1 billion in IFC investment and up to $1 billion in low-interest World Bank financing to support private-sector-led job creation and growth. The program targets easier business rules, port and energy infrastructure (70% renewables by 2030, +1 GW), tourism and agriculture support, and a first $100m REVIVE project to create about 3,000 jobs in the Northern and Eastern provi

Sri Lanka and the World Bank Group launched a five-year Country Partnership Framework mobilising over $1bn in IFC investment and up to $1bn in low-interest World Bank financing, with a first approved $100m REVIVE project for the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The plan targets easier business rules, Port of Colombo expansion, 1 GW of new clean power by 2030, tourism and agriculture job creation, and climate resilience.

Swinburne University of Technology Australia sent a delegation of academics to Sri Lanka to brief students on global opportunities and evolving education across business, health sciences, engineering and IT. They stressed adaptability, industry integration, digital/AI skills, sustainability and renewable-focused training.

John Keells Properties' Vauxhall DSTRCT sold over 200 apartments within two weeks of launch. The Colombo project is a 60-storey residential tower of 749 apartments on about 1.5 acres.

Sterling Steels (Pvt) Ltd won a Merit Award at the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects Annual Product Awards 2026 in the Zinc-Aluminium Coated Profile Steel Sheet category. The award highlights its product with Heat Reflectance Technology and the company's emphasis on quality and sustainable construction materials.

ASPI fell 1.2% (258.31 pts) for the week and the S&P SL20 dropped 2% (124.30 pts); market turnover was about Rs.1.77bn with net foreign outflows of Rs.68.2m, while breadth was positive and activity was led by capital goods, banks, materials and food & beverage names.

Cabinet cleared the Ceylon Electricity Board to develop the Maha Oya pumped-storage hydro project at Rs243.09 billion. The project will store excess renewable energy to improve grid stability, reduce reliance on peak thermal generation and will be funded under the Public Debt Management Act No.33 of 2024.

Cabinet approved Rs. 243.09 billion in funding for the Maha Oya Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant to be implemented by the Ceylon Electricity Board under the Public Debt Management Act. The two‑phase project aims to provide large-scale energy storage to balance renewable generation and stabilize supply at peak demand.

Construction PMI (Total Activity Index) was 70.3 in February 2026, indicating continued expansion in construction activity though at a slower pace than the prior month. New orders and employment rose while suppliers' delivery times lengthened due to import delays; firms cite rising input-cost and Middle East conflict risks.

YWCA Bangkok and Thai Beverage Public Company Limited donated about Rs5 million (≈$26,000) to Sri Lanka’s Humanitarian Priorities Plan to support post-cyclone reconstruction; funds were handed to Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Bangkok.

Dividend · Rs 0.47 · XD Apr 15, 2026

First Interim dividend of LKR 0.47/share; XD 2026-04-15; record 2026-04-15; payable 2026-04-27; FY 2025/2026

The Colombo Port City Economic Commission and BOI told the Committee on Public Finance they are courting Gulf-linked investment—targeting BPOs and disaster-recovery operations—with about Rs.10.5bn of government utility spending to the Port City boundary. They said 70 pending applications were approved after January 2026 Act amendments and Cabinet approved a two-year extension allowing Port City businesses to operate outside the zone.

Krane, a San Francisco–based AI construction supply-chain startup founded by Sri Lankan-born Eshan Jayamanne, raised $9 million in a round led by Glasswing Ventures and Link Ventures. The platform uses specialized AI agents to manage procurement, submittals and deliveries and supports over $15 billion in active projects across the U.S. and Canada.

ASPI rose 3.56% for the week but closed yesterday down 0.21% at 21,375.73 as the bourse ended a volatile week; foreign investors were net sellers of over Rs.1.2 billion and market turnover was about Rs.2.7 billion.

Galle City Center opens tomorrow: a 135,000 sq ft, nine-storey complex featuring six floors of premium retail and a four-star, 35-room hotel with rooftop banquet and restaurant. The development is expected to boost retail and tourism activity in the Southern Province.

INSEE Sanstha Cement was crowned the People’s Housing & Construction Brand of the Year at the SLIM Kantar People’s Awards 2026 for the 15th consecutive year. The brand also highlighted sustainability credentials including Environmental Product Declarations, a 5‑Star Green Label and the NCPC EcoLabel.

BrandRadar (Roar Global) launched the Sri Lanka AI Visibility Index and hosted the country's first AI Visibility Summit to benchmark how brands appear in AI-driven discovery platforms (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, etc.). Initial coverage includes hospitality, banking/finance, insurance, retail/e-commerce, automotive and real estate.

Home Lands has commenced construction of Canterbury Crest Resort Apartments, the final phase of Canterbury Golf City featuring 96 apartments. The resort-style development offers two- and three-bedroom units with amenities and is located about 20 minutes from Colombo.

Blue Arc Manufacturing and the BOI signed an agreement to establish Sri Lanka’s first containerized substation assembly factory to manufacture and export skid and containerized substations. Units will be assembled and IEC-tested in Sri Lanka for Australian mining, tunneling and construction projects, using local labour and modular, IoT-capable designs.

ADB pledged an additional $100m in budget support to help Sri Lanka mitigate economic shocks from the West Asia conflict, raising its planned 2026 support to $480m. It is also fast-tracking a $200m emergency loan for cyclone reconstruction and backing port, transport and logistics projects while scaling annual programs to over $1bn.

Sri Lanka's services exports rose 14.68% to $334.9m in Feb 2026, driven by a 36.66% increase in ICT/BPM earnings to $153.62m while construction services fell 8.10% to $6.35m. Total goods and services exports were $1,401.78 billion, up 4.22%.

ADB will provide $100m in additional budget support, raising its planned 2026 budget support for Sri Lanka to $480m; it is also fast-tracking a $200m emergency loan and scaling its annual program to over $1bn to back infrastructure, reforms and human capital.

Lanka Realty Investments PLC (ASCO.N0000) will sell a 51% stake in subsidiary Lanka Realty Developments Ltd to group unit Lee Hedges PLC (SHAW.N0000) for Rs.1,610,334,180, with at least Rs.800m earmarked to partly settle a Rs.1,453.5m related-party loan. The transaction is subject to Lee Hedges shareholder approval and is expected to realise a disposal gain and improve liquidity for Lanka Realty.