News & market updates

Bally's Colombo has appointed Rahul Attanayake as Chief Operating Officer. He was previously the company's Chief Human Resources Officer and will oversee operational functions across business units while continuing to lead human capital and organizational transformation.

CSE indices rose modestly and turnover reached Rs.2.07 billion, led by John Keells Holdings with Rs.661 million traded; ASPI closed up 14.48 pts at 21,187.22 and S&P SL20 gained 6.18 pts to 5,948.74.

FHIIT has opened a new fitness facility at Orion City in Colombo, offering functional training, strength and conditioning, group classes and personalised coaching aimed at a broad membership.

Emirates Skywards launched Skywards Rail, allowing members to redeem Miles for rail tickets to more than 12,000 European destinations via skywardsrail.com. Members can pay fully with Miles or use Cash+Miles, search schedules, choose cabins/ticket types and receive e-tickets by email.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat, ASPI up 0.07% to 21,187.22 with turnover of 2.07 billion rupees; capital goods led turnover at 866 million rupees.

Registrations are open for the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026, taking place 12–13 Oct at the Shangri‑La Colombo, focusing on resilience, reform and economic policy to attract investment, boost exports and promote private‑sector‑led growth.

Finetech Consultancy hosted 'Nexus: Gemini Enterprise for Business' on 24 July, promoting Google Gemini solutions it says can drive up to 15X productivity for Sri Lankan enterprises. The event featured technical sessions, a client success case from Anunine Holdings, and a Q&A on implementation and security.

Hambantota International Port Group said the port is for efficient cargo movement, not long-term vehicle storage, and clarified storage charges. It reported the port holds over 50,000 vehicles, with about 1,278 stored over three months and 581 stored for more than a year, citing past import restrictions.

Central Depository Systems (CDS), the CSE's depository, has extended the deadline to suspend accounts missing mandatory information from July 31 to September 25, 2026. Investors must submit a completed CDS Form 28 via their stockbrokers (a front-end facility is available) or face final suspension after the firm September 25 deadline.

Associated Motorways (AMW), the sole authorised Suzuki distributor in Sri Lanka, opened a new dedicated Suzuki showroom in Kandy at No. 448, Katugasthota Road, expanding its retail and after-sales network in the Central Province.

Sri Lanka was named one of the top global gainers in investor relations and debt transparency in the IIF's 2026 assessment, with its Investor Relations Country Score up 6.3 points to 43.67/50; it scored 11.25/13 on Debt Transparency and 3.25/4 on ESG after launching a formal IRP in Dec 2024.

Sri Lanka Telecom Plc (SLT-MOBITEL) will be a founding member and infrastructure partner for the proposed National AI Institute, providing shared AI infrastructure to support research, innovation and national digital transformation.

Seylan Bank's employees won national Mercantile competitions: the Seylan Rugby Team were unbeaten champions of the 2025 Bowl Championship (33–0), while the athletics contingent set meet records and secured 8 gold, 2 silver and 9 bronze medals.

Sri Lanka ranked the 4th largest global improver in the 2026 IIF Investor Relations and Debt Transparency Report, with its Investor Relations Country Score rising to 43.67 (from 37.33) and debt-transparency ranking improving from 19th to 5th. The PDMO's investor-relations program and stronger debt management aim to broaden the investor base and reduce the borrowing uncertainty premium.

Sri Lanka was ranked 20th in Travel And Tour World's Top 50 Beach Travel Destinations for 2026. The listing highlights the country's diverse coastal attractions—beaches, surf breaks and marine heritage—underscoring its appeal for coastal tourism.

Sampath Bank (via its Employees' Union and Sustainability Unit) supported essential upgrades at Lady Ridgeway Hospital, refurbishing a blood-filtration machine, installing air-conditioning in the physiotherapy unit, adding directional signboards and child-friendly decorations.

McLarens Lubricants Ltd will be the Official Lubricant Partner of the 92nd Mahagastota Hill Climb on 16–17 August 2026 at the Mahagastota racing track in Nuwara Eliya. The partnership aims to showcase Mobil-branded lubricant technology to motorists, racing enthusiasts and automotive professionals.

Hemas Holdings' Hemas Hospitals and Adora Cosmetic Centre won seven national honours at the GlobalHealth Sri Lanka Awards 2026 — the highest number by any hospital group, with awards across cosmetic & plastic surgery, laser treatments, urology, ambulatory care and corporate wellness.

CPA Australia President Prof. Dale Pinto said management accountants who embrace AI, data analytics and ethical judgement will outperform, urging the profession to shift from reporting to strategic advising amid geopolitical uncertainty and sustainability priorities.

SAIC Motor has delivered 100 million vehicles worldwide, with the IM Motors LS9 Hyper recorded as the 100 millionth vehicle. Evolution Auto (Pvt) Ltd is the authorised IM Motors distributor in Sri Lanka, offering local sales, after-sales service and genuine parts to support the brand.

KDK Sri Lanka led a delegation to Malaysia to review KDK's technology and engineering, including energy-efficient innovations behind its new DC fan. The visit, joined by team members from Japan and Hong Kong, aimed to strengthen regional collaboration and local product support.

Dialog Axiata has partnered with Singer Sri Lanka to integrate Dialog Pay at more than 420 Singer showrooms, enabling customers to pay by scanning a LankaQR via the Dialog Pay or MyDialog apps. The integration supports eZ Cash or linked bank accounts and extends Dialog Pay's digital wallet, transfers and savings features to Singer's retail network.

The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka will host the National Business Excellence Awards 2026 tomorrow at Shangri-La Colombo from 5 p.m., unveiling over 140 nominees across 31 sectors to honour corporate excellence; the event follows a multi-stage independent evaluation and will include a gala dinner.

Janashakthi Finance PLC launched 'Project Compass', a service transformation programme to enhance customer experience, strengthen processes and build a culture of service excellence. The initiative will be rolled out with partner Blue Mango Partners over the coming months.

Hayleys PLC (via Hayleys Plantations) has partnered with UNDP BIOFIN to implement Payment for Ecosystem Services projects across its estates, covering Talawakelle Tea Estates, Horana Plantations and Kelani Valley Plantations. Projects include watershed conservation, biodiversity-restoration with tourism integration and a PES model evaluation.

Pelwatte Dairy Industries has broken ground on a Greenfield liquid-milk manufacturing facility in Kurunegala, slated to open in July 2027. The plant will produce plain and flavoured fresh milk, marking Pelwatte's expansion from milk powder into liquid dairy products to boost local supply.

United Motors Lanka PLC's subsidiary Unimo Enterprises unveiled the all-new Perodua Traz SUV and Perodua Alza seven-seater MPV in Colombo, priced Rs. 8.8M–20M with special introductory offers for the first 50 customers. Both models carry five-star ASEAN NCAP ratings and fuel-efficiency ~21–22 km/l.

Sri Lanka Brand Conclave 2026 will be held on 28 July at Cinnamon Grand to bring global brand leaders and local senior executives together; senior marketing leaders from Singer (SINS.N0000) and Dialog Axiata (DIAL.N0000) will participate in sessions on AI, digital transformation and brand leadership.

Stredge has launched Reach High, a new consultancy focused on leadership and people development and executive coaching. Reach High will provide leadership development, executive and communication coaching, organisational transformation and talent assessments led by MD Chinthaka Dharmarathne.