News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down with the ASPI down 0.89% to 22,570.03 and the S&P SL20 down 0.66% to 6,222.79. Asiri Hospital (+12.37%), Melstacorp and Carson Cumberbatch led gains while RIL (-5.92%), C T Holdings and Dialog were top decliners; turnover Rs 4.11bn.

Oceans, a Sri Lanka-based services employer, has over 500 professionals (majority in Sri Lanka) serving 300+ global clients and has launched Oceans Academy and WAVE upskilling to support borderless careers.

SLT-MOBITEL was named Sri Lanka’s #1 Best Mobile Network by Ookla for Q3–Q4 2025. The award is based on Ookla’s Speed Score (download, upload and latency) and the company said it will continue investing in 5G, ultra-fast fibre and expanded rural broadband.

Uber launched its mobility service in Kegalle, Sri Lanka, offering car, tuk and motorbike bookings via its app. The expansion aims to improve transport along the Colombo–Kandy corridor and create flexible earning opportunities for local drivers.

Jazz deployed solar systems at 1,000 telecom sites with Huawei, totaling 13 MW capacity and expected to generate about 11 GWh annually, cutting carbon emissions by roughly 15,000 tonnes while improving network reliability.

HUTCH has partnered with the Sri Lanka Padel League 2026 to provide connectivity and digital services for the tournament at Padel House, CR & FC, Colombo from 19–21 June 2026. The deal will support streaming, registrations and on-venue digital engagement to enhance the fan and player experience.

IT Gallery Computers hosted the PANTUM Partner Summit 2026 and launched a new printer lineup — Smart Classic, BM2300, BP2300, CP2100 and CM2100 — to expand PANTUM's printing solutions presence in Sri Lanka.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan hosted the Japan–Sri Lanka ICT Business Matching Event 2026 in Tokyo, featuring 10 Sri Lankan ICT firms, 50+ Japanese representatives and facilitating over 400 B2B meetings. The event aimed to boost ICT exports (now >USD 1.5bn) and deepen Japan–Sri Lanka digital partnerships.

Roar Global partnered with SLASSCOM Women in Tech 4.0 and Spa Ceylon’s Her Business Matters to deliver platform-focused digital growth sessions for women entrepreneurs. Sessions covered AI-driven search and Google advertising plus practical Meta and TikTok growth strategies.

Inextricable Group appointed Jayantha Peiris as Senior Vice President, Digital and Enterprise Transformation. Peiris, with 30 years at MAS Holdings leading ERP and digital initiatives, will strengthen the consultancy's apparel and manufacturing ERP, data and Industry 4.0 service offerings.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed higher as the ASPI rose 1.47% to 22,588.97, led by gains in Carson Cumberbatch, Hayleys and Dialog Axiata while Asian Hotels & Properties and DFCC Bank were among decliners. Turnover was Rs.4.96bn with capital goods contributing Rs.951m.

ALT X built and launched BE | LIVING's global eCommerce presence using its AI-driven eCom360 model, delivering a Shopify-based platform, social media setup and performance operations to launch the premium cookware brand in the USA, UK, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Germany.

TikTok removed 175,302,085 videos in Q4 2025 (about 0.5% of uploads), with 152,580,933 detected by automated systems and a proactive removal rate of 99.1%. The report also notes 147,716,518 fake accounts removed, 23,875,879 accounts suspected under 13, and 8,360,780 videos reinstated after review.

Sri Lanka's 15th census shows a shrinking workforce and ageing population: total fertility rate fell to 1.3, median age rose to 35, elderly (60+) are 18% of the population and 52.7% of working-age people are economically inactive.

LankaPay, the SLTDA and Alipay+ signed an MoU to promote Sri Lanka tourism and enable cross-border LankaQR payments via Alipay+'s network reaching over 1.8 billion user accounts. The initiative offers targeted promotions to APAC travellers, aims to boost tourist spending and help SMEs adopt digital payments.

The ADB forecasts growth in developing Asia and the Pacific will slow to 5.1% in 2026 and 2027 (from 5.4% in 2025), citing the Middle East conflict and trade uncertainty; regional inflation is seen rising to 3.6% in 2026. The report warns of risks from higher energy and food prices, shipping disruptions and tighter financial conditions.

Colombo market closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.33% (73.06 pts) to 21,844.54, with net foreign selling of Rs.221.4m (weekly outflows Rs.1.9bn) amid Middle East tensions; IMF staff-level agreement on EFF reviews helped a partial late-session recovery.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down as the All Share Index fell 0.33% to 21,844.54. National Development Bank (+3.41%), Nations Trust Bank (+1.65%) and Janashakthi Insurance (+8.74%) led gains, while Dialog Axiata (-2.47%), John Keells (-1.02%) and Melstacorp (-1.14%) were top decliners; Cargills Bank listed 294,200,000 rights shares raising Rs.2,500,700,000.

Kaspersky detected 14,960,244 local malware incidents on Sri Lankan user computers in 2025, with 37.4% of users hit by threats spread via removable media. Worms and file viruses were the primary vectors, and Kaspersky urges device controls and layered endpoint security to limit spread.

The IMF and Sri Lankan authorities reached a staff-level agreement on the combined 5th and 6th reviews of the EFF that, if approved by the Executive Board, would unlock about US$700m, conditional on restoring cost‑recovery fuel and electricity pricing, financing assurances and debt restructuring. The IMF also urged rebuilding reserves with exchange‑rate flexibility, fiscal and revenue reforms, stronger social safety nets, and progress on NPLs and governance reforms.

IMF staff and Sri Lankan authorities reached staff-level agreement on the combined Fifth and Sixth Reviews of the EFF, which, if approved by the IMF Executive Board, would unlock about US$700 million in financing. Approval is contingent on restoring cost‑recovery fuel and electricity pricing and completing financing assurances and debt restructuring.

Colombo market recorded its largest single-day gain as the ASPI rose 4.21% (885.14 pts) to 21,917.60 on Middle East ceasefire optimism; turnover was over Rs.6.6bn and foreigners were net sellers of Rs.612.4m. JKH, COMB, HNB, DIAL and DOCK were top contributors and the banking sector led turnover (24%).

Author urges Sri Lanka to expand QR digital payments and deepen economic cooperation with China (including Belt & Road) to bolster economic stability amid energy-market shocks from US–Iran tensions and shifting global currency/gold dynamics.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 4.21% to 21,917.60 as a US two-week ceasefire announcement drew investors back, with turnover at Rs.6.61 billion and banks driving activity. Top contributors included John Keells, Commercial Bank, Hatton National Bank, Dialog Axiata and Colombo Dockyard.

Dialog Axiata launched 'GanuDenu QR', a MyDialog app QR payment feature allowing free person-to-person transfers up to LKR 5,000, interoperable across the LankaPay network and available with a 2GB data reward on first send.

Dr. Sulakshana Jayawardena was appointed acting Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka. He brings 23+ years of public administration experience with a focus on power/renewable energy and will push FDI attraction, digitalization and Industry 4.0–friendly reforms at the BOI.

SriLankan Airlines warns of an escalation in impersonation scams via phone and WhatsApp, telling customers not to share OTPs, PINs, credit card details or install apps and to verify communications through its official website or verified social channels.

The final report of the Census of Population and Housing 2024 was presented to the President; it is the 15th census and the first to use 15,000 tablets and smartphones for nationwide digital data collection, enabling faster transmission and more comprehensive analysis.

President launched the National QR Payment Adoption Program and banks have waived the Merchant Discount Rate on LankaQR transactions up to Rs. 5,000. The CBSL-backed drive aims to formalise the economy and improve subsidy targeting by boosting QR uptake with zero-cost low-value and P2P QR payments and awareness campaigns.

Cabinet approved a Rs. 626 million project to establish a unified Digital Communication and Collaboration Platform for government employees, to be implemented this year. The platform is part of the Digital Economy Plan and aims to modernise communication, coordination and workflow across State institutions.