News & market updates

Kenya aims to triple tea export revenue to over $2bn by 2027, supported by China lifting import tariffs and a KSh3.7bn (~$28m) government allocation to modernise tea factories and boost processing and value-added orthodox tea production; tax waivers on packaging for agricultural exports will also lower costs.

Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company Plc was invited to be Patron of the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka’s Water & Ocean Stewardship Working Group and reported a 2024/25 direct water footprint of 19,498 m3 (DCTC) with municipal water use down 8% and wastewater discharged down 44% year‑on‑year.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held a special discussion with plantation company representatives on the proposed increase to estate workers' daily wages to align with recent public/private sector salary hikes and discussed implementation; the government pledged support for developing the plantation sector.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake urged plantation companies to raise estate workers' daily wages and said the government will support the industry to implement the increase. Representatives from major planters, including Kahawatte, Malwatte, Kelani Valley, Balangoda, Browns, Kegalle and Kotagala, took part.

Sumathi Information Technologies unveiled Sri Lanka’s first DJI Dock 3 and is now an authorised dealer for DJI Enterprise and Agriculture drones, showcasing automated drone uses across public safety, infrastructure inspection, plantation monitoring and environmental surveillance.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake announced plantation workers' daily wage will be raised to Rs. 1,750 by year-end. The remark came at a land-deed distribution under an India-funded housing project that provides Rs. 2.8m per unit, plus Rs. 400,000 from the Sri Lankan government for infrastructure.

The third edition of the Sri Lanka promotional event 'Sri Lanka: A Cultural Odyssey' at Milan's Merlata Bloom drew 83,000 visitors on 27–28 Sep 2025. The two-day festival featured cultural performances and more than 15 stalls, including Ceylon tea and tour operators, to promote Sri Lanka's travel and trade profile.

Telbedde Estate of Balangoda Plantations (BALA.N0000) and Pedro Estate of Kelani Valley Plantations (KVAL.N0000) secured the second- and third-highest prices at the Ceylon Specialty Estate Tea charity auction in Osaka, fetching JPY 65,000/kg and JPY 55,000/kg respectively.

AOD graduate Jonathan Joseph runs Brandkind, rebranding FMCG and tea labels (including Tea Avenue, Hyson Tea, Tea Tang, Cassandra Organics and energy drink RIDE) to help Sri Lankan products reach international markets and collaborating with global firms.

Samara Perera was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of The Kingsbury PLC and Horana Plantations PLC. She has prior experience with Hayleys PLC and Vallibel One PLC.

EDB-led Sri Lanka Business Forum at World Expo 2025 in Osaka on 26 Sep showcased around 20 exporters to promote trade, investment and tourism to Japanese investors. BOI and the Tourism Promotion Bureau highlighted incentives and sectors including apparel, tea, spices, gems, F&B, handicrafts and IT; the Sri Lanka Pavilion runs 22 Sep–5 Oct.

Balangoda Plantations PLC's Telbedde Estate won the Overall Gold Award at the Ceylon Specialty Estate Tea of the Year 2025, and its OP1 lot fetched ¥65,000/kg (Rs. 133,620/kg) at a charity auction in Osaka. The estate is under the stewardship of Melstacorp PLC, and the recognition is expected to bolster demand for its premium single-estate teas.

Ceylon Chamber chairman Krishan Balendra told Japanese investors in Tokyo that Sri Lanka is on a path to economic revival (economic activity ~5% of GDP) and invited investment in apparel, agri-exports, renewable energy, logistics and IT services.

New Vithanakande Tea Factory set a Guinness World Record by selling tea for 125,000 JPY (~Rs.255,000) per kg at the Sri Lanka Charity Tea Auction in Osaka. The buyer was Janat Paris International and the sale proceeds will support education for children of tea estate workers.

Fifteen Sri Lankan food and beverage companies, supported by the Sri Lanka Embassy, EDB and Tea Board, exhibited at Saudi Foodex 2025 in Riyadh to showcase spices, tea and other exports and to engage buyers including LuLu and Aljazera hypermarkets.

Sri Lanka showcased export, investment and tourism opportunities at the Sri Lanka Business Forum during World Expo 2025 in Osaka on 26 Sep 2025, featuring around 20 exporters across apparel, tea, spices, gems & jewellery, food & beverages, handicrafts and IT services. The EDB and partners highlighted investor incentives, logistics improvements and a Sri Lanka product display at the pavilion (22 Sep–5 Oct).

Colombo Stock Exchange extended its rally into an 11th session as the ASPI rose 0.47% (102.30 pts) to 21,778.60 with turnover of Rs. 6.27 billion and foreign net outflows of Rs. 362.2 million. Top contributors included DIMO, BUKI, CCS, MELS, WATA and SUN, with gains also in CHOT and PKME.

Dividend · Rs 0.69 · XD Oct 10, 2025

First Interim dividend of LKR 0.69/share; XD 2025-10-10; record 2025-10-12; payable 2025-10-23; FY ended 2025/2026

Dividend · Rs 1.74 · XD Oct 10, 2025

First Interim dividend of LKR 1.74/share; XD 2025-10-10; record 2025-10-12; payable 2025-10-23; FY 2025/26

Dividend · Rs 0.60 · XD Oct 10, 2025

First Interim dividend of LKR 0.6/share; XD 2025-10-10; record 2025-10-12; payable 2025-10-24; FY 2025/2026

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.47% to 21,778.60, led by gains in Diesel & Motor Engineering (DIMO.N0000), Bukit Darah (BUKI.N0000), Ceylon Cold Stores (CCS.N0000), Melstacorp (MELS.N0000) and Watawala Plantations (WATA.N0000).

A Sri Lanka–USA Business Council webinar analysed US tariff changes and their impact on Sri Lankan exporters, noting US tariffs are effectively at 20% parity with peers and that two-thirds of Sri Lanka's US exports are apparel. Panelists urged strict customs compliance, tariff simplification, FTAs and sustainability while warning of gradual rupee depreciation risk.

Colombo stock market opened the week higher as the ASPI rose 0.36% (77.31 pts) to 21,676.20, led by plantation counters and conglomerates; turnover was about Rs.4.2bn and foreigners were net sellers of Rs.15.6m.

Colombo stocks rose on Monday with the ASPI up 0.36% (77.31 points) as retail buying lifted plantation and some manufacturing shares; top contributors included Carson Cumberbatch, Melstacorp, John Keells, Namunukula and Watawala.

Eswaran Brothers launched a gender inclusion programme (October 2024) with Value for Women and support from FMO to elevate women into leadership across the tea industry, rolling out a Gender Action Plan, leadership training, anti-harassment policies and family-friendly measures.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake led Sri Lanka Day at Expo 2025 Osaka, where the Sri Lanka Pavilion showcased culture, Ceylon tea, spices, gems and tourism to thousands of visitors. Japan's expo minister joined the visit as the event aimed to boost tourism and export promotion.

Lara De Zoysa has launched Ceylon Tea Market in the UK, a multi-vendor platform that launches with 12 heritage and artisanal Ceylon tea brands. The platform combines e-commerce, tea holidays, tea education and a CSR trust to promote Pure Ceylon Tea and support tea-growing communities.

Sri Lanka will deliver tea fertilizer subsidies via a QR-code system from Oct 1, offering Rs 4,000 off a 50 kg bundle and Rs 2,000 off a 25 kg bundle, with Rs 2,000 million allocated for 2025. The subsidy targets smallholders (75% of production) to help lift annual tea output to 400m kg by 2030.

The ASPI closed at 21,599, rising 0.36% (78 points) on the day and finishing the week up 2.4% (S&P SL20 up 1.9% for the week). Turnover was Rs.6.02bn yesterday (week avg daily Rs.7.11bn); capital goods led turnover and top contributors included Hemas, Melstacorp, Commercial Bank, CIC, Gran, Sunshine, Kelani Cables and John Keells.