News & market updates

Belluna Lanka completed 447 Luna Tower in Colombo 02, a 44-floor residential development with 202 apartments and a limited release of ready-to-move-in units for sale. The project, built by Sanken and designed by PWA with Arup advisory, was recognised at the Sri Lanka National Construction Awards 2025.

More than 90 students from Don Bosco Institute's civil engineering, nursing and hotel & tourism management faculties graduated on April 10, with most reportedly securing jobs before the convocation. The institute is accredited up to NVQ Level 6 and serves about 250 students across six faculties.

Ninewells Hospital broke ground on a new building to expand surgical capabilities, patient care environments and medical infrastructure, aiming to increase capacity and specialised services in Sri Lanka.

Sirin Park Luxury Eco Lodge in Ginemellagaha is offering scientifically backed animal-therapy experiences to guests and has invested around Rs.250 million to develop the property. The lodge has two suites (c.6 guests), farm-sourced meals, basic amenities, solar for staff areas and offers coconut and village tours.

IBH Real Estate marks six years in business, having grown into a trusted real-estate services firm focused on luxury transactions and offering legal, advisory and transactional support to local and international clients.

Sri Lanka's 15th census shows a shrinking workforce and ageing population: total fertility rate fell to 1.3, median age rose to 35, elderly (60+) are 18% of the population and 52.7% of working-age people are economically inactive.

Three Sinha Industries Ltd was awarded the SLIA Product Award of Merit on 27 February 2026 for its locally manufactured Clean Room Door, recognised for durability, hygiene control and suitability for healthcare, laboratory and industrial clean rooms.

ADB forecasts Sri Lanka's GDP to moderate to 4.0% in 2026 and 4.2% in 2027, with inflation set to rise to 5.2% largely due to the Middle East conflict. The economy remained resilient in 2025 with strong private consumption, record remittances, a primary surplus and higher reserves, but higher energy costs and weaker tourism/trade pose risks.

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.

LANKATILES unveiled an immersive Concept Studio at Architect 2026, winning Overall Best Stall and Best Trade Stall Displaying Local Products. The showcase presented new ranges (including Majestica and mosaics), zoned interior settings and an AI-powered Tile Visualizer for architects and homeowners.

Hayleys Solar (Hayleys PLC) completed an 800 kW rooftop solar installation for London Stock Exchange Group in Malabe, expected to generate ~1,250 MWh/year, supply ~80% of LSEG's daytime electricity and cut ~850 tonnes CO2 annually. The six-building, 1,412-panel system was delivered in two months with a zero-accident record.

IMF Mission Chief Evan Papageorgiou said invitations were extended to all political parties for talks with its delegation, though the main opposition SJB did not attend; the IMF held discussions with MPs on fuel rationing, fiscal consolidation, under-execution of capital expenditure and anti-corruption frameworks.

The IMF and Sri Lankan authorities reached a staff-level agreement on the combined 5th and 6th reviews of the EFF that, if approved by the Executive Board, would unlock about US$700m, conditional on restoring cost‑recovery fuel and electricity pricing, financing assurances and debt restructuring. The IMF also urged rebuilding reserves with exchange‑rate flexibility, fiscal and revenue reforms, stronger social safety nets, and progress on NPLs and governance reforms.

IMF staff and Sri Lankan authorities reached staff-level agreement on the combined Fifth and Sixth Reviews of the EFF, which, if approved by the IMF Executive Board, would unlock about US$700 million in financing. Approval is contingent on restoring cost‑recovery fuel and electricity pricing and completing financing assurances and debt restructuring.

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.

The Rebuilding Sri Lanka Presidential Task Force, chaired by PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, ordered expedited compensation payments, repairs to damaged homes and accelerated construction of new housing after Cyclone Ditwah. The PDNA report was presented and the Task Force will meet periodically and hold special district-level discussions to fast-track housing and infrastructure programs.

Cabinet approved relocating the High Court and Magistrate’s Court from Galle Fort to a new judicial complex in Beligaha, handing vacated heritage buildings to the Urban Development Authority for PPP-led tourism redevelopment under the Galle Purnajeewana Project. The move aims to ease congestion, improve accessibility and revitalise underutilised spaces to boost heritage tourism.

Colombo Dockyard (DOCK.N0000) signed an MoU with Dredging Corporation of India to provide dry-docking, repair and upgrade services for DCI's dredger fleet, expected to boost Indian-linked business volumes following Mazagon Dock's 51% stake in Colombo Dockyard.

ADB launched the Regional Connectivity Fund for Energy (RCF) with initial funding of about $25 million to prepare cross-border ASEAN Power Grid projects. ADB has also pledged up to $10 billion over the next 10 years to support the ASEAN Power Grid and related investments.

The final report of the Census of Population and Housing 2024 was presented to the President; it is the 15th census and the first to use 15,000 tablets and smartphones for nationwide digital data collection, enabling faster transmission and more comprehensive analysis.

Asia Capital PLC has appointed Tamao Watanabe as an Independent Non-Executive Director; she is a Japanese investor active in Sri Lanka since 2016 and has helped facilitate about $10 million in foreign direct investment, with experience in real estate and tourism.

Fitch published an 'A(lka)' National Long-Term Rating on WindForce PLC’s proposed senior unsecured redeemable debentures of up to LKR4 billion. Fitch cited structural subordination from secured subsidiary debt and significant capex—forecasting EBITDA net leverage to peak at 9.0x in FY27—while assigning a Stable outlook.

Hambantota International Port doubled its RoRo yard capacity and increased container yard capacity by 30% to handle a surge in shipping volumes triggered by the Middle East crisis. Yard utilisation is at record highs as vessels divert from disrupted routes, reinforcing HIP's role as an alternative transhipment hub near the main East–West route.

Government published the 2026 Governance Action Plan, targeting the Public Procurement Bill for August 2026 and SOE holding-company formation by August with SOE milestones extending to October. The plan also schedules an EPF review by August, asset-management and PPP laws in 2026, and continued digitalisation (e-procurement, land registry) with some rollouts into 2027–28.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI closed up 0.04% to 21,126.60 as banking stocks faced selling pressure after NDB disclosed an internal fraud loss of 13.4 billion rupees and trading in NDB was halted. DFCC, Cargills Bank and Access Engineering led gains while Commercial Bank, HNB and Melstacorp were laggards; turnover was Rs.3.029bn.

BOI held a full-day FDI promotion session with a 15-member Malaysian delegation to showcase ready projects, land and infrastructure for immediate investment, drawing interest in ICT/data centers, solar renewable energy, manufacturing, FMCG, agri-processing and tourism.

Hambantota International Port doubled its RoRo yard capacity and increased container yard capacity by 30% after a surge in shipping volumes driven by the Middle East crisis. Yard utilisation reached record highs as vessels diverted from disrupted routes, boosting HIP's role as a regional transhipment hub.

The World Bank Group and the Government of Sri Lanka launched a five-year Country Partnership Framework mobilizing more than $1 billion in IFC investment and up to $1 billion in low-interest World Bank financing to support private-sector-led job creation and growth. The program targets easier business rules, port and energy infrastructure (70% renewables by 2030, +1 GW), tourism and agriculture support, and a first $100m REVIVE project to create about 3,000 jobs in the Northern and Eastern provi

Sri Lanka and the World Bank Group launched a five-year Country Partnership Framework mobilising over $1bn in IFC investment and up to $1bn in low-interest World Bank financing, with a first approved $100m REVIVE project for the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The plan targets easier business rules, Port of Colombo expansion, 1 GW of new clean power by 2030, tourism and agriculture job creation, and climate resilience.