News & market updates

SEC and the Colombo Stock Exchange held the 'Invest Sri Lanka' investor forum in Dubai on 22 January 2026 to promote Sri Lanka's capital markets and meet regional investors and institutions including Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. CSE highlighted the ASPI at over 23,800 (≈120% since Oct 2024) and USD 976m raised in 2024–25, while the Central Bank discussed resuming foreign credit lines with UAE banks.

India and the EU agreed a free-trade deal creating a two-billion-person free-trade zone covering about 25% of global GDP, with tariffs on 96.6% of EU goods to India to be eliminated or reduced. The pact aims to boost sectors including machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cars and consumer foods and is expected to double EU exports to India by 2032.

Presidential Special Envoy Hanif Yusoof told Channel News Asia that Sri Lanka is on a path to economic recovery and pitched Port City Colombo as an investor-ready, export-oriented, services-led development aimed at attracting financial services, IT/digital exports, professional services, logistics and regional HQs.

Abans launched the second phase of the Lenovo Premium Club and honoured top showroom managers at an event on 22 January 2026, recognising high-performing showrooms and promoting Lenovo products across its 350+ showrooms nationwide.

Koaloo.Fi and Stredge have formed a strategic partnership to offer AI-driven sustainability and financing solutions for supply chains, combining Koaloo.Fi's platform with Stredge's local market and operational expertise to improve resilience and cash flow.

India and the EU have concluded negotiations on a proposed free trade agreement, likely to be announced today, aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment. The pact is expected to cut duties on labour‑intensive and key sectors (textiles, chemicals, gems & jewellery, electrical machinery, leather, footwear and pharmaceuticals) and is presented as a political signal against rising tariffs.

The Export Development Board launched the National Export Development Roadmap 2026–2030 and an Export Performance Indicator data tool, targeting $36 billion in export revenue by 2030.

SLASSCOM is sending 25 Sri Lankan startups to a fully funded six-week residential programme at IIT Madras Pravartak from 2 Feb–14 Mar 2026, offering mentorship, investor access and training to help participants scale and internationalize.

Sri Lanka's total export earnings reached US$17,252.15 Mn in 2025, up 5.6% year-on-year. Merchandise exports rose 6.32% to US$13,579.38 Mn and services exports increased 2.79% to US$3,672.77 Mn, with strong gains in apparel, coconut products, ICT/BPM and food & beverages.

Young people increasingly use TikTok search to research exam preparation, degrees, day‑in‑the‑life careers and practical skills, using short videos to compare approaches and test relevance before committing to formal education or training.

HUTCH launched 'HUTCH 15', a Rs 1,199/month smartphone plan offering non-stop access to 15 apps—including ChatGPT, Gemini and LinkedIn—plus 35GB extra data, unlimited calls and Rs 100 credit. The plan is aimed at accelerating AI adoption, digital learning and professional development in Sri Lanka.

A Sri Lankan delegation of 11 tech companies, including hSenid Business Solutions (HBS.N0000), showcased at the AsiaBerlin Summit 2025 and reported that 80% of delegates initiated new leads or partnerships. The event aimed to deepen EU market connections and promote Sri Lanka's digital export potential.

The first Technology Incubation Centre opened at the University of Vavuniya as part of a plan to establish 24 centres islandwide to boost entrepreneurship, innovation and startup development. An accompanying science and innovation exhibition and the launch of 172 Young Inventors Clubs were held to promote STEM and grassroots technology transfer.

Dialog Axiata PLC secured ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup media rights in Sri Lanka for 2026–2028 and hosted an event showcasing the tournament and trophy. Sri Lankan fans will be able to follow the 2026 World Cup on Dialog Television and the Dialog Play app.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya met Swiss and Sri Lankan business leaders in Davos to promote Sri Lanka's reform agenda and to explore investment and partnerships in services, capital markets and financial technology. She emphasised economic stability, predictable policy frameworks and governance reforms to rebuild investor confidence.

BOI reports $1,057 million FDI inflows in 2025, a 72% YoY increase, with manufacturing attracting 46% and port development 26% of inflows. Singapore was the largest source (30%) and the BOI aims for a $1.5 billion FDI target in 2026 backed by new projects and institutional reforms.

A Sri Lankan delegation of 11 tech companies, including hSenid Business Solutions, showcased at the AsiaBerlin Summit 2025 and generated commercial traction—80% of delegates initiated new leads or partnerships, with many forming multiple meaningful business connections.

EFC's National Best Employer Awards 2025 honoured SPEN.N0000, COMB.N0000, DIAL.N0000, HNB.N0000, HAYL.N0000, HHL.N0000, JKH.N0000 and others as Best Employer winners; honourable mentions included CTC.N0000, LLUB.N0000 and LION.N0000.

ASPI rose 0.03% (7.45 pts) to 23,813.77 while the S&P SL20 slipped 0.02% to 6,617.85; turnover was Rs.8.3 billion and foreigners were net sellers with a reported net outflow of Rs.144.6 billion. Top contributors included HNB, DFCC, UML, RICH and ASCO, with DOCK, HAYL and SFCL dragging the index.

The Northern Province hosted the Northern Investment Summit on 21–22 Jan, where BOI chairman Arjuna Herath announced plans for a four-lane highway, Jaffna airport runway extension, Kankesanthurai port upgrade and three strategic industrial zones to attract investment. The summit highlighted priority sectors including IT, tourism, manufacturing, agriculture and healthcare and called for public–private partnerships and diaspora engagement.

Jaffna International Trade Fair (JITF) opens 23–25 Jan 2026 at Muttraweli Ground, Jaffna with over 400 stalls, building on a previous turnout of 78,452 visitors and 5,000 invited business delegates.

ASPI closed at an all-time high of 23,806.32, up 0.77% (182.58 pts) on turnover above Rs.9.8bn. Gains were led by Hayleys, Colombo Dockyard and Sampath Bank, with the capital goods and banking sectors among the top contributors.

The Northern Investment Summit 2026 (21–22 Jan) set out plans to transform Sri Lanka’s Northern Province into an investment hub, proposing infrastructure upgrades (a four‑lane highway, Jaffna runway extension, KKS port upgrade) and three industrial zones at KKS, Paranthan and Mankulam.

LK Domain Registry marked 35 years, saying .LK domains account for 62% of Sri Lanka's domain market. The Registry highlighted initiatives such as TechCERT, SuhuruSara e-learning and FOUNDATION.LK that support digital inclusion and cyber safety nationwide.

The Export Development Board held a National Consultative Forum to shape the Strategic Export Development Roadmap 2026–2030, targeting US$36 billion in export revenue by 2030. The forum launched an Export Performance Indicator data tool and promoted Sri Lanka Expo 2026, with participation from senior government and central bank officials.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met ADB President Masato Kanda in Davos to discuss Sri Lanka’s reform agenda and economic situation; she also met EU Commissioner Jozef Síkela to seek stronger cooperation on economic recovery, education, digital transformation, climate resilience and sustainable development.

Gamer.LK's Colombo Comic Expo 2025 concluded at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre, drawing thousands of fans and featuring Munchee Savory as Platinum Partner and Coca‑Cola as power partner; the two-day event hosted 300+ cosplayers and 60+ artists in Artist Alley.

FINEXT 2025 career fair at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura linked undergraduates with finance, technology and professional services firms; participating shortlisted companies included UAL.N0000, CALH.N0000, VLL.N0000, WLTH.N0000 and NDB.N0000. A panel on the export-oriented knowledge and professional services sector and onsite interviews provided recruitment and industry insights.

Huawei Convergent Billing System (CBS) was named a 'Leader' in Omdia's "Telecom Billing Market Radar – 2025" report, recognised for AI-driven intelligent operations, full-convergence architecture and cloud-native reliability.

Colombo Dockyard drove turnover and traded higher after India’s Mazagon Dock bought a 41.73% stake; the ASPI rose 0.76% to 23,803 with market turnover Rs9.81bn, of which DOCK accounted for Rs2.65bn.