News & market updates

Colombo market closed higher for a second straight session, with the ASPI up 0.11% to 22,844.23 and the S&P SL20 up 0.20% to 6,311.30. Market turnover was over Rs.3.4bn (38% below the monthly average), foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.124.56m, policy rates were maintained and investors showed interest in hotel counters; key movers included HNB, DOCK, DIMO, AEL and PKME.

Dialog Axiata PLC's Dialog Enterprise served as Principal Sponsor of the Sri Lanka CERT|CC Cyber Security Conference 2025, supporting national cybersecurity awareness and resilience.

Kaspersky warns attackers are using AI-generated fake websites to distribute legitimate Syncro remote-access software preconfigured to give attackers full control of victims' devices to steal crypto. The sites mimic popular apps and use scareware; avoid unverified downloads and verify URLs.

Sri Lanka's cabinet approved moving forward with RCEP accession by responding to the initial questionnaire, which must be completed by January 1, 2026. Accession would require elimination of tariffs on about 85–90% of tariff lines and is intended to diversify exports and strengthen participation in regional supply chains.

Sri Lanka's total exports in Jan–Oct 2025 reached $14.43bn, up 6% YoY, with merchandise exports $11.37bn (+6.53%) and services $3.06bn (+4.01%). Tea, apparel, coconut-based products, ICT/BPM and transport & logistics led the gains and the EDB remains confident of a $19bn 2025 target.

Government has halted issuance of new terrestrial analogue TV licences and reassigned frequency allocation to the TRCSL under the Digital Non-territorial Television Broadcasting Project with Japan, targeting full implementation by 2029 and analogue switch-off two years after completion. No government fees will be charged, though viewers may need compatible devices.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will attend the Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2025 on Dec 2 for a fireside chat on the government's economic rebuilding plans. The two-day summit (Dec 2-3) has drawn over 850 participants and includes sponsors/partners such as Sunshine Holdings, Dialog and Hayleys.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 24.32 points to 22,844.23 as turnover fell to LKR 3.44 billion. Top contributors included Kerner Haus (CPRT) which jumped 124.50 rupees to 780.50 after signing a property management deal, and gains in HNB, DOCK, DIMO, AEL and PKME.

The Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2025 (Dec 2–3) is sold out with over 850 participants, including 100+ international delegates. The two-day event will feature 40+ speakers across trade, investment, manufacturing, renewable energy, technology, tourism, finance and agriculture, plus B2B/G2B meetings.

Sri Lanka's services exports rose 0.67% y/y to $316.14m in October 2025, led by ICT/BPM (up 26.71% to $154.50m) and financial services (up 47.60% to $3.81m). Transport and logistics fell 13.44% to $144.50m and construction exports fell 40.98% to $13.33m.

Sri Lanka's cumulative exports reached US$ 14,433.82 Mn in January–October 2025, a 6.0% year-on-year increase, with coconut-based exports topping US$1.0bn for the first time. Services exports rose 4.01% to an estimated US$ 3,060.21 Mn, while apparel, tea and food & beverages also recorded gains.

Huawei and partners won three IDC Asia/Pacific FEA awards for digital and data-center projects: Yantai Port's platform delivered +15% operational efficiency and −40% equipment failures; Shenzhen's city data center cut PUE from 1.6 to <1.3 saving >20% electricity; China Mobile Int'l's FoTan data center targets PUE <1.3 and >30% CO2 reduction.

Sri Lanka's startup ecosystem generated $821 million in ecosystem value between July 2022 and Dec 2024 and was highlighted as a rising innovation hub in the 2025 GSER. Disrupt Asia launched a $50m Fund of Funds (with $5m government seed) and BOI/SEC reforms plus a National AI Policy aim to attract VC and scale IT/AI startups.

Roar AdX secured 3 wins and 10 shortlisted entries at the 2025 Meta Reels Impact Awards, with Keells Supermarkets (John Keells group) and Spa Ceylon recognised in multiple categories for their reels and innovation.

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka introduced the first-ever digital signature for President’s Counsel oath ceremonies, admitting 532 newly enrolled attorneys via digital signature from 21 Nov 2025; a phased e-Filing rollout for attorneys starts in 2026.

The Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2025 (Dec 2–3) is sold out with over 850 participants, including 100+ international delegates. Session and partnership sponsors include Sunshine Holdings, Dialog Axiata and Hayleys (Hayleys Advantis); sessions cover trade, investment, renewable energy, tourism, finance and technology.

Rootcode won six awards at the National ICT Awards (NBQSA) 2025, including Golds for Clamigo (Agriculture) and Urbanora (Citizen Services), a Silver for Skapp, and two awards for Neuragrid across R&D and energy categories.

Cenmetrix marks 20 years, saying it has completed over 10,000 deployments and its digital identity and access systems now power organisations including Dialog Axiata. The company is expanding internationally and embedding AI, analytics and automation into its platforms.

UNDP economist Dr. Vagisha Gunasekara warned Sri Lanka's Digital Public Infrastructure rollout and rapid para-tariff cuts risk entrenching inequality and destabilising industries unless internet access, digital skills, labour mobility and SME readiness are addressed first. She recommended DPI be designed for low-bandwidth, multilingual, mobile-first access and that trade reform sequencing prioritise non-tariff logistics and customs reforms and skills investment before tariff cuts.

World Bank economist Dr. Jonah Rexer warned Sri Lanka faces a "twin pressure" from AI and high trade protection that threatens job creation, noting ~20% of South Asia jobs are AI-exposed and Sri Lanka's generative AI adoption is ~10%. He said high tariffs on intermediate inputs raise production costs for textiles, apparel, electronics, pharmaceuticals and business services, limiting export-linked job growth.

eChannelling PLC won the Silver Award for Online Brand of the Year at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards 2025. The recognition highlights the company’s role in advancing digital healthcare and reinforces its brand credibility in Sri Lanka’s tech-enabled health sector.

Ceylon Chamber of Commerce led a Sri Lankan business delegation to the CII Partnership Summit 2025 in Visakhapatnam, holding B2B meetings and sessions on trade, investment and digital transformation to explore partnerships and market access.

Speakers at an OPA seminar said the 2026 National Budget targets growth, development and debt sustainability through fiscal discipline, digitisation, export promotion and infrastructure spending. Panelists flagged positive fiscal trends but warned of weak real incomes, low employment, stalled reserves and monetary policy challenges.

The Sri Lanka–Canada Business Council led a trade and investment mission across Canada (28 Oct–14 Nov) that opened pathways for cooperation in tourism, agriculture, IT, finance, education and research, and explored an investment forum and diaspora-led initiatives including an OCSL visa discussion.

The Ministries of Transport and Digital launched card payments for bus fares from today (25), enabling bank-issued credit and debit cards to be used on buses with ticket-issuing machines in an initial phase across about 20 routes, with an inaugural event at Makumbura Multimodal Transport Center.

Sri Lanka High Commission promoted Sri Lanka as a tourism and investment destination at the Lions District 201N5 Conference in Wentworthville on 15 November, drawing strong visitor interest in leisure travel and partnerships. The team highlighted opportunities in tourism, ICT and agriculture, including Ceylon tea.

A Sri Lanka–Canada Business Council–led delegation completed a trade and investment mission in Canada (28 Oct–14 Nov 2025) to advance partnerships across agriculture, IT, finance, tourism and education. Discussions covered banking and insurance cooperation, agri‑tech and food security, medical tourism, an OCSL visa scheme and plans for investment forums and trade fairs.

An Indian FATF Cell delegation visited Sri Lanka from 12–14 Nov 2025 to deliver a second phase capacity-building programme for the Central Bank and other regulators on financial supervision, VASPs and digital payments; further virtual sessions and follow-up visits are planned.

Dialog Axiata PLC launched the Dialog ViU+ Smart TV App, a device-free Smart TV solution offering 105 live TV channels for a single subscription pack at Rs. 800+ tax and access to over 50,000 hours of VOD (additional charges apply).

GIZ and government partners held 'Embracing Diversity' in Colombo, connecting more than 100 jobseekers with disabilities to employers. Over 100 CVs were submitted across hospitality, ICT, retail, manufacturing and services, and several firms began on-site screening.