News & market updates

Altair appointed Realty Management Services (RMS) as its new facilities management partner to enhance operational excellence and resident experience. RMS will implement digital service platforms, improved security and housekeeping, and sustainability and energy-optimization initiatives.

Uber Eats has launched in Nuwara Eliya, enabling local restaurants to reach more customers and offering late-evening deliveries using temperature-controlled insulated bags to keep meals hot.

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.

Malaysia Airlines is expanding its East Asia network—adding Shenzhen and Changsha, resuming Fukuoka—and will increase flight frequencies to Colombo. Ticket sales start today and the new China services (bringing the network to nine gateways) begin between July and September 2026.

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.

Hambantota International Port doubled its RoRo yard capacity and increased container yard capacity by 30% after a surge in shipping volumes driven by the Middle East crisis. Yard utilisation reached record highs as vessels diverted from disrupted routes, boosting HIP's role as a regional transhipment hub.

Hyundai Motor warned exports to Europe and North Africa are being disrupted by the Middle East conflict, choking shipping routes, raising logistics costs and delaying deliveries. Hyundai Glovis said some Middle East routes are inaccessible and cargo is being rerouted to hubs such as Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Customs collected 226.4 billion rupees in March, 25.2% above the 180.4 billion rupee target, and 677.3 billion rupees in Q1, 33.7% above the quarter target. Officials said stronger enforcement, improved valuation and a rebound in import volumes drove the gains.

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.

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.

EDB convened CPC and a broad cross-section of exporters to address fuel accessibility and distribution bottlenecks; CPC agreed to facilitate direct dialogue to establish a reliable, prioritized fuel supply mechanism for export-oriented industries including apparel, electronics and pharmaceuticals.

The EDB convened a high-level meeting with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and export industry stakeholders to tackle fuel distribution problems affecting exporters; CPC agreed to engage directly with the private sector to improve prioritised and coordinated fuel supply.

The IEA, IMF and World Bank have formed a coordination group to align analysis and mobilize support for countries hit by the Middle East war's energy and economic shocks, prioritizing low-income energy importers and assessing energy prices, trade flows, inflation and financing needs. The group may provide targeted policy advice, concessional financing and risk-mitigation tools.

CFA Society Sri Lanka and Frontier Research will host an evening discussion, “Resilience on the line: Evaluating Sri Lanka’s macro stability amid global shocks,” on 9 April 2026 (5–7 p.m.) at Courtyard by Marriott, Colombo City Centre. Speakers will cover risks including oil price shocks, shipping disruptions, weaker global growth and tighter financial conditions.

The Cabinet approved compensating fuel importers up to Rs.20/litre for 92 Octane petrol and up to Rs.100/litre for diesel, with Rs.20 billion allocated for the measure. It also froze fuel allowances for ministers, MPs and public officials at March 1, 2026 rates and said retail prices are expected to remain unchanged through April unless global prices rise sharply.

Cabinet approved submitting draft regulations to Parliament to roll out a six-month free visa programme for passport holders of 39 countries to boost tourism. The move could forgo about $66m a year in visa revenue but is expected to spur wider spending across hotels, transport and related sectors.

Sri Lanka and Brazil agreed to elevate bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2030. They also committed to finalising MoUs and technical cooperation projects in areas including dairy/livestock, sugarcane, agriculture, ports and shipping, and traditional/Ayurvedic medicine.

UAE stock markets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi lost about $120 billion in market value since the start of the US–Israel war on Iran, with the DFM down ~16% and ADX down ~9%. The conflict has also hit travel and tourism, causing widespread flight cancellations that weigh on the sector.

SLPA says it has secured sufficient fuel to maintain uninterrupted operations across major ports despite monthly diesel demand rising from 1.5m to 2.5m litres; Colombo container volumes are up 10–15% while export growth has stagnated amid maritime uncertainties.

CAASL says Sri Lanka has about 34,000 tonnes of Jet A-1 at CPC plus 15,000t from the refinery and 43,000t on order, providing roughly a 57-day fuel buffer; a 35,000t shipment and an additional 8,000t are arriving. Flight disruptions have eased to about 30–35% from 50–60%.

Asia Siyaka Commodities PLC appointed Executive Director Chamara Dissanayake as CEO effective 1 April 2026 and named Shashike Silva and Kirk Wijesekera as Executive Directors. Dissanayake is currently SVP and Group COO and has experience advising the tea value chain, including as a consultant to the Asian Development Bank.

The war in the Middle East is driving higher energy prices and major supply‑chain disruptions, which are boosting inflation and tightening global financial conditions. Energy importers, food and fertilizer‑dependent agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and banks face the greatest strain.

Hambantota International Port Group will invest USD 108 million in new quay cranes, RTGs and trailers to expand capacity to about 2 million TEUs and enable handling of the world’s largest container vessels. The upgrade aims to boost efficiency and move operations toward electrified, more sustainable handling.

Singer Sri Lanka (SINS) has partnered with Kapruka Holdings (KPHL) to sell Singer's consumer electronics and homeware on Kapruka's Partner Central platform with a price-parity guarantee. The tie-up gives Singer access to Kapruka's delivery network and over one million expatriate customers.

Colombo Fashion Week will host the BRICS Fashion Summit (South Asian Edition) on April 3 during CFW Summer 2026 at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, featuring over 30 designers and international participants. The summit aims to open markets and deepen ties for designers and apparel supply chains across BRICS and South Asia.

The Sri Lanka–Benelux Business Council met with the Dutch Ambassador to discuss strengthening private‑sector links and potential collaboration in logistics and port development, renewable energy and maritime services; the Council will share a concept note on priority sectors and engagement initiatives.

Customs House Agents and Wharf Representatives say import clearance times have slipped from 24–48 hours to seven–eight days, raising the cost to clear a container to about Rs.260,000 and held-up charges to ~Rs.105,000 per FCL.

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.

A government monitoring committee warned current fuel quotas are insufficient and could trigger price increases for essential goods ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year; five CPC officials will be appointed to assess needs and a QR-code system for fuel issuance will be introduced.