Company filings and market news from across Sri Lanka's stock market.
National Consumer Price Index inflation rose to 2.4% in March 2026 from 1.6% in February; food inflation eased to 0.7% while non-food year-on-year inflation rose to 3.8% from 1.9%.
The Government of Japan will provide USD 2.6 million through UNDP for two Sri Lanka projects: USD 1.5M for a climate-smart dairy programme and USD 1.16M to strengthen women deminers. The dairy project targets 750 smallholders (and ~5,000 indirect beneficiaries) in Kilinochchi and Nuwara Eliya; the deminer project focuses on Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu to improve land clearance and resettlement.
EPF fully exited holdings in six CSE-listed companies in 2025 — Cargills Bank, Ceylon Hotels, Colombo Dockyard, Jetwing Symphony, LAUGFS Gas and Sierra Cables — and made one new investment, buying 40 million shares in Hemas Holdings; its listed equity count fell from 65 to 59.
World Bank says Sri Lanka's planned phase-out of para-tariffs (PAL and CESS) by 2029 will cut average import duties by about nine percentage points, with manufacturing hit hardest—food & beverages could see cuts up to 28 ppts while textiles and mining under 5 ppts. Household consumption is projected to rise ~3.1%, with larger gains for lower-income rural households.
Indian Affair (Giga Foods Pvt Ltd) opened a new biryani-focused outlet on Saranankara Road in Dehiwala as part of its 2026 biryani-first repositioning. The takeaway-first location offers chicken, mutton and specialty biryanis and is available through major food delivery platforms.
LIIN and WUSC hosted the first GRIT-EDTP investor pitch competition in Jaffna to support women entrepreneurs after training 340 participants; winner Pallueir Ltd received Rs. 600,000 in seed capital.
Dividend · Rs 17.54 · XD May 27, 2026
Final dividend of LKR 17.54/share; XD 2026-05-27; record 2026-05-28; payable 2026-06-16; FY as at 31st of December 2025
CBSL's PMI showed Manufacturing PMI rose to 66.7 in March (from 56.8 in February) and Services PMI rose to 59.4 (from 54.4). Expansion was led by seasonal demand, financial services and retail, though firms reported raw-material and fuel shortages, shipping delays and Middle East conflict risks.
LIMRA Holdings was named among the Top 40 Outstanding Companies in Sri Lanka and won Gold in the People and HR Governance ESG cluster at the Best Management Practices Company Awards 2026.
Ritzbury, the chocolate brand of CBL Foods International, was named the People’s Chocolate Brand of the Year at the SLIM‑Kantar People’s Awards 2026 for the second consecutive year. The award is based on nationwide consumer sentiment and underscores the brand's strong consumer recognition.
British Cosmetics (Private) Limited has entered a strategic partnership with Ethera Business LLC to advise and support its disciplined expansion into international markets; the first market-specific distribution partner will be announced in due course.
Sri Lanka–Benelux Business Council hosted a seminar on quality assurance, safety standards and certification, focusing on Halal certification and the global demand for Halal-certified products to guide exporters and food & beverage manufacturers on ISO and Halal compliance.
Sri Lanka's services PMI rose to 59.4 in March 2026 from 54.4 in February, driven primarily by financial services and growth in insurance and pension funding. Employment and activity also increased, with wholesale/retail and accommodation and food & beverage sectors expanding ahead of the festive season.
PMI Manufacturing rose to 66.7 and PMI Services to 59.4 in March 2026, indicating expansions driven by seasonal demand and strong financial services activity. Firms reported tight production from raw-material and fuel shortages, longer supplier delivery times and precautionary stocking amid the Middle East conflict.
Sri Lanka's manufacturing PMI rose to 66.7 in March from 56.8 in February, signalling continued expansion driven by seasonal demand. CBSL said all sub‑indices expanded (notably food & beverages and textiles), but firms reported raw material and fuel shortages, rising costs and shipping delays.
IEA, IMF and World Bank issued a joint statement saying the war in the Middle East has driven up oil, gas and fertilizer prices, disproportionately hurting energy importers and threatening food security, jobs and tourism. They said they will coordinate assessments and provide policy advice and financial support.
The Asian Development Bank warned that surging global fertilizer prices—urea up over 50% and ammonia up nearly 40% since late February—could renew food inflation pressures in Sri Lanka. Higher input costs may raise production expenses, lower crop yields and add to domestic inflation amid other global risks.
The cost of a traditional kevili table rose 7% in 2026 versus 2025. Aluwa prices jumped 25.8% (driven by a 43.6% rise in cashew prices), coconut oil and rice flour together explained nearly 80% of the overall increase, and the table now costs 2.5 times its 2019 level.
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.
Aitken Spence (SPEN.N0000) opened the 41st Colombo Shopping Festival — Avurudu Fair — at BMICH, running 8–12 April 2026 and featuring over 200 MSMEs and multiple top retail brands.
Pan Asia Bank launched an Avurudu credit-card campaign offering over 250 exclusive deals with discounts up to 70% across restaurants, hotels, jewellery, fashion, automobile dealers and online platforms to provide seasonal benefits to cardholders.
IMF, World Bank and WFP warned the Middle East war threatens global energy and food security, causing sharp increases in oil, gas and fertilizer prices and rising food insecurity. They said low‑income, import‑dependent countries will be hardest hit and pledged coordinated support to protect lives and livelihoods.
Sri Lanka's recovery from Cyclone Ditwah has slowed, with more than 149,000 people still displaced and $23.4m pledged of the $35.3m required for the humanitarian plan. OCHA warns rising fuel and energy costs, supply-chain disruptions, heat-reduced hydro output and funding gaps risk food security, livelihoods, tourism and resettlement.
Sri Lanka’s national poverty line rose to Rs.16,730 per person/month in January from Rs.16,334 a year earlier, then eased to Rs.16,571 in February, indicating a moderate year-on-year increase but slight month-on-month moderation across districts.
Food Studio opened Primo (its fourth location) and Smashy (its first standalone site) at Arcade Independence Square under Liberty Lands & Developments. The openings form part of Food Studio’s strategy to scale its in-house dining brands beyond mall locations into lifestyle precincts.
LAUGFS Supermarkets opened its 43rd outlet in Pitipana, Homagama — the chain's third new store in Q1 2026. The company said the expansion aims to improve accessibility, support local suppliers and create internal promotion opportunities.
Nestlé Lanka's NESCAFÉ was voted People's Hot Beverage Brand of the Year and MAGGI was joint‑winner of People's Snack Brand of the Year at the SLIM‑KANTAR People's Awards 2026, marking the fifth consecutive year for both brands.
Colombo bourse opened mixed: ASPI rose 0.04% to 21,126.60 while the S&P SL20 fell 0.24%; market turnover exceeded Rs. 3bn and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs. 804.7m. Food & beverage and capital goods led turnover with heavy crossings in Melstacorp.