News & market updates

Teejay Lanka PLC fully funded a new washroom facility at Ruwanwella Royal College and partnered with the H.E.R Foundation to deliver menstrual health and hygiene education to about 400 students and parents.

DealBook.lk, a joint venture between Frontier Capital Partners and Asia Capital Global Solutions, has launched as a digital marketplace to connect global capital with Sri Lanka's private-market corporate deals. The platform targets arrangers, investors and founders across infrastructure, energy, agriculture, healthcare and technology.

New Anthoney’s Farms signed a five-year MoU with the University of Peradeniya to provide independent, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory verification that its chicken production is entirely antibiotic-free. The university's FSQAL-UPDN will systematically test samples across production stages to verify absence of antibiotics.

EDB, the Sri Lanka Embassy in Riyadh and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority held a webinar on Saudi export registration procedures for over 90 Sri Lankan exporters; Saudi was the 23rd export destination at $137.85m in 2025 (+13.3% vs 2024). The session covered registration, facility approval, inspection and clearance processes for poultry, fisheries, processed foods, frozen produce, beverages and herbal products and included a technical Q&A with SFDA officials.

AIA Insurance Lanka launched 'Vision X', a strategic blueprint to deepen bancassurance partnerships and deliver a digital-first customer experience, highlighting ties with NDB, DFCC, Commercial Bank and Pan Asia Bank.

University of Surrey has launched Asia’s first Master’s in Digital Health, to be delivered at the International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS) in Sri Lanka. The programme trains graduates and professionals in digital health systems, informatics, analytics and leadership to support healthcare digital transformation and regional employability.

EU leaders endorsed a 'Buy European Only' policy; Frontier Research says it does not yet directly affect Sri Lanka but could hurt export earnings if GSP+ preferences are diluted. Key vulnerable sectors noted are tea, rubber and apparel, while stricter rules could also affect IT, medical services and electronics ties.

Lanka Hospitals PLC won the Gold Award in the Health Sector at the TAGS Awards 2025 — its third consecutive Gold — recognising the company’s reporting quality, governance and transparency.

Access Engineering will invest $6.9 million to establish a cyclotron-based radiopharmaceutical production facility, with commissioning scheduled for today; it holds a 60% stake in Access Medical Tracers Ltd.

The Board of Investment will host the Sri Lanka Investment Forum 2026 on 30 March at Cinnamon Life, Colombo, focusing on green transition and sector-led investments including renewable energy, green finance, services, manufacturing, infrastructure and leisure. The EU, ADB and ESCAP are supporting the event, which includes parallel sector sessions and a closed-door EU–SL investor dialogue.

Softlogic Life reported FY25 GWP of Rs.40.1bn (27% YoY) and PAT of Rs.4.7bn with ROE at 39%, completed the acquisition of Allianz Life Lanka and secured a USD 15m capital investment from Norfund/OP Finnfund.

IRONMAN® 70.3 Colombo will take place 19–22 Feb 2026 at Port City Colombo, expected to host nearly 1,000 athletes from 49+ countries and boost tourism and local economic activity; Asiri Health is named the event medical partner.

Allianz Lanka's Women in Leadership ERG donated essential medicines and baby sanitary items to Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children on 3 February 2026 to support pediatric care.

DFCC Bank (DFCC.N0000) has issued a Basel III-compliant GSS+ Bond to channel long-term capital into green, social, sustainability and sustainability‑linked projects. The bond builds on DFCC's prior green and blue bonds and aims to strengthen regulatory capital while funding renewable energy, healthcare and inclusive infrastructure.

Sunshine Holdings reported 9MFY26 consolidated revenue up 8.1% to Rs. 48.9bn and EBIT up 1.2% to Rs. 7.5bn, while PAT fell 8.8% to Rs. 4.3bn. Healthcare remained the largest revenue driver but faced margin pressure from new pharma pricing, while agribusiness (Watawala) posted strong palm oil-led gains.

Ajay Banga (World Bank) warns 1.2 billion young people will enter the workforce in the next 10–15 years while only about 400 million jobs are expected, creating a vast shortfall. The World Bank proposes a three-pillar jobs strategy (infrastructure and skills, business-friendly rules, and scaling businesses) focused on infrastructure, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism and manufacturing.

Sustagen (Reckitt Sri Lanka) launched a national 'Healthy Ageing' initiative promoting its 24‑nutrient formula to support activeness, immunity and cognitive strength as Sri Lanka’s over‑60 population rises toward one‑in‑five by 2030.

Siddhalepa was awarded Superbrands Sri Lanka status, reaffirming its position as Sri Lanka's leading Ayurvedic healthcare brand. The accolade — the company's second Superbrands recognition and the only one for an Ayurvedic brand — highlights its nine-decade heritage and sustained consumer trust since 2006.

Sunshine Holdings (SUN) reported consolidated 9MFY26 revenue of LKR 48.9bn (+8.1% YoY), Group EBIT of LKR 7.5bn (+1.2% YoY) and PAT of LKR 4.3bn (-8.8% YoY). Healthcare remained the largest contributor with margin pressure from a new pricing mechanism, while Agribusiness (Watawala) delivered strong revenue and margin gains.

Sunshine Foundation for Good, the CSR arm of Sunshine Holdings PLC, distributed stationery vouchers to about 750 schoolchildren in Kelaniya, Kadawatha, Rathmalana, Modara and Mattakkuliya as part of its 2026 education support initiative. The program covered pupils from Grade 1 to Grade 11 at schools near Sunshine's operations and involved the group's leadership and business lines.

Amana Takaful PLC relaunched a unified mobile app combining Life and General insurance services, serving over 18,000 users. The app adds improved performance and features including instant claims intimation, real-time tracking, premium payments, digital e-cards, life fund management, telemedicine and wellness tools.

HNB Assurance PLC was recognised as the Best Health Insurance Coverage Provider of the Year – Sri Lanka by the Indian Chamber of Commerce, cited for its product innovation and customer-centric health coverage.

MAS Femography and the Selyn Foundation have partnered to scale the #BleedGood initiative in 2026 to combat period poverty by distributing medical-grade reusable menstrual products and providing education, male engagement and climate-conscious programming.

New Anthoney’s Farms celebrates 40 years as Sri Lanka’s only producer of 100% antibiotic-free chicken. The company highlights expansions (including a Nov 2025 'Chicken Havens' premium range), extensive certifications, its 2023 acquisition of Gold Coin Feed Mills, and AMR public-health advocacy.

India is hosting a five-day Knowledge Exchange Workshop on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) for a Sri Lanka Ministry of Health delegation in New Delhi to develop a strategic pathway for institutionalizing HTA in Sri Lanka. The workshop will cover HTA frameworks, governance, methodologies, pricing and procurement.

Milford Exports Ceylon Ltd. increased its stake in Melstacorp PLC by 1 million shares at Rs.179 each, raising ownership from 42.80% to 42.88%.

ADB has appointed Shannon Cowlin as its new Country Director for Sri Lanka, and she assumed office in Colombo today. Cowlin, with 26+ years' experience including work on energy, climate and public health, said ADB will support Sri Lanka's recovery and resilience, including cyclone damage.

AIA Group released research finding entrenched physical, mental and financial health stereotypes across Asia and launched the next phase of its Rethink Healthy campaign with three films to reshape health narratives. The study analysed over 100 million social media posts and a survey of 2,100 respondents.

Fems (Hemas Consumer Brands) launched the Purple Bin project at Bataduwa Sri Rathanajothi Maha Vidyalaya in Galle and will roll out Phase 1 from 30 Jan 2026 across 20 schools providing disposal bins and guidance. Encare (CEA‑approved) will collect and recycle sanitary napkins into eco‑friendly bricks under a PPP with the Ministry of Health and CEA.