News & market updates

SLT-MOBITEL sponsored and powered connectivity for the Grand Finales of the 2026 SLIoT Challenge and IESL RoboGames, enabling demonstrations and competitions across school, undergraduate and open categories. Winners included Team Quarista (SLIoT School) and RoboticGen Labs (SLIoT Open), and Controlled Chaos (RoboGames School) and Team Ascension (RoboGames Open).

Richard Pieris Finance reported Profit Before Tax of Rs. 701.6m and Profit After Tax of Rs. 448.7m for the year ended 31 Mar 2026; total assets rose to Rs. 24.57b, customer deposits to Rs. 11.68b, loans and lease receivables expanded and Fitch affirmed an A(lka) Stable rating.

U.S. Assistant Secretary S. Paul Kapur arrived in Colombo for a three-day visit to strengthen U.S.–Sri Lanka ties, meeting government officials and U.S. company leaders (Chevron, Coca‑Cola, Microsoft, Visa, JP Morgan) to discuss expanding trade, investment, security cooperation and supply-chain links.

Sri Lanka's total exports for Jan–May 2026 reached US$7,393.39 million (+7.56% YoY), with May exports of US$1,570.64 million (+18.34% YoY). Growth was broad-based across merchandise and services, led by apparel, coconut products, rubber gloves, electrical/electronic components and ICT/BPM, while tea slipped marginally.

Asian stocks wobbled after a global tech- and semiconductor-led selloff, with MSCI’s Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index down 0.02%. Market caution was driven by concerns about higher interest rates (Fed/BoJ), falls in oil and gold, and volatility around currencies and tech sector valuations.

First Capital Research: aggregate earnings of 271 listed companies fell 11.4% YoY in the March 2026 quarter (third straight quarter), but underlying earnings rose 30.1% YoY after adjusting for major one-offs. Food, Beverage & Tobacco dragged the aggregate result while retailing and telecom posted strong gains (e.g. UML, DIAL, SLTL, SINS).

A Cabinet-appointed committee reviewing Sri Lanka’s Free Trade Agreements is expected to submit recommendations in July, and an India Trade Desk has been launched to help Sri Lankan firms tap the Indian market. Bilateral trade reached about $5.8bn in 2025, with Sri Lankan exports to India over $1bn and imports $4.3bn.

SJB MP Harsha de Silva urged the government to conclude the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India to integrate Sri Lankan firms into Indian value chains and attract FDI. He warned delays risk missing India’s growth, called for services-sector safeguards and urged resolution of non-tariff barriers such as certification and logistics.

The IRD enacted broad tax reforms under the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act No.11/2026 effective 3 June, including new capital gains rates (15% for individuals/partnerships; 30% for trusts, unit trusts, mutual funds and NGOs), expansion of a 5% withholding tax on many professionals, expanded TIN use, unit-trust compliance rules and stronger enforcement.

Dialog Enterprise (Dialog Axiata PLC) has partnered with Prime Lands Residencies PLC to provide high-speed Dialog Fibre connectivity to residents of The Colombo Border development in Peliyagoda. Services include dedicated fibre bandwidth, managed Wi-Fi, IPTV and 24x7 network operations support.

99x's Xians.ai won both the Provincial and National Awards for Best Innovation in Internal Processes, Technology or Framework at the SLASSCOM National Ingenuity Awards 2026. The open-source Agent Control Plane orchestrates and scales agentic AI workflows and is used for internal and customer-facing AI initiatives.

Perituza held an executive breakfast in Colombo with Sri Lankan PR, communications, advertising and marketing leaders to demonstrate practical AI applications for agency workflows, including live demos of AI-assisted development. The firm plans sector-specific follow-ups, next focusing on banking and financial services.

Sysco LABS Managing Director Thushera Kawdawatta joined a SLASSCOM CEO Breakfast Forum panel on "Transforming Cyber Security into Business Resilience" to discuss the role of cybersecurity in building organizational resilience.

Softlogic Information Technologies achieved Dell Technologies Titanium Partner status and is the sole Titanium Partner in Sri Lanka. The recognition strengthens its strategic partnership with Dell and bolsters the position of parent Softlogic Holdings.

Uber launched Uber Eats and Uber Rides in Ratnapura, enabling food and grocery delivery plus multi-vehicle ride-hailing across the district. The expansion provides local merchants, delivery partners and drivers with new customer access and earning opportunities.

Hatton National Bank (HNB.N0000) will be Title Sponsor of the CCWE Fashion Week and International Summit 2026, held 16–20 July at Cinnamon Life, Colombo. HNB says the sponsorship supports women entrepreneurs, SME development and financial inclusion.

The Thailand–Sri Lanka Business Forum highlighted opportunities from the new Sri Lanka–Thailand FTA, with bilateral trade at USD 649m in 2025 (up 48%) and commitments to boost supply chains, investment and trade across food processing, logistics, IT, healthcare, tourism and manufacturing.

Masterwork Group GM Sales Maxen Liu said Masterwork regards Sri Lanka as one of its fastest-growing markets and is promoting automation, AI-driven smart-factory solutions and rooftop solar to improve efficiency and sustainability in the printing and packaging sector.

The Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry launched the National SME Strategy Framework – SME NEXUS in Colombo and recognised Chrysalis for its contributions to SME development. Chrysalis was acknowledged for helping simplify business name registration and strengthening the National Industry Database to support SMEs.

The ASPI edged up 0.01% to 22,256.49 with turnover above Rs.1.56bn and foreign investors net-selling Rs.225mn. Hemas, NDB and Hayleys Fibre were top turnover contributors (Hemas and Hayleys up, Panasian Power down).

Cabinet approved procurement of a Rs. 1 billion Aeronautical Message Handling System for Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd to replace its end-of-life system at Ratmalana. The project will be financed through AASL's capital budget to modernise critical aviation communications.

Bank of Ceylon is promoting its BOC Flex and Lanka QR solutions to expand QR-based cashless payments nationwide, leveraging its more than 9,000 employees to advance digital payment adoption.

Amana Takaful PLC closed a rights issue raising over Rs. 1 billion via the allotment of 52.8 million new shares at Rs. 19 each, with the offer 68.8% oversubscribed. Proceeds will support growth, digital initiatives and preparation for SLFRS 17/9, bolstering Tier I capital.

The National Chamber of Exporters warns unresolved regulatory, operational and policy bottlenecks could hamper Sri Lanka's US$36bn export target by 2030; total exports were US$4.31bn in Q1 2026 (up 1.59% y/y). Sectors including coconut, floriculture, minerals, boat-building and logistics seek digitised single-window clearances, labour import mechanisms and royalty/licence reforms.

Sri Lanka used the 10th China–South Asia Expo in Kunming to boost market access, with Yunnan authorities agreeing to provide a 2,000 sq m free warehouse in Kunming for Sri Lankan exporters to store and distribute goods via Chinese e-commerce. The pavilion highlighted tea, spices, coconut products, processed foods, handicrafts and tourism services amid rising participation and trade growth with China.

The Central Depository System (CDS) will suspend non-operative client accounts in a four-phase program, starting 30 June 2026 for accounts inactive 15+ years and completing 31 January 2027 for accounts inactive 3+ years. Suspended accounts keep ownership and entitlements; reactivation via the CSE Mobile App or CDS website requires updated KYC and verification.

Agrithmics has deployed a fully integrated digital estate management system at Goomera Estate, the first government-owned tea estate in Sri Lanka to be digitalized, and the State Plantation Corporation plans to roll the system out across all its estates by year-end. The platform automates wages, attendance and plucking data and provides GPS-enabled dashboards and offline-capable mobile apps.

Singer Sri Lanka PLC opened the first HONOR Experience Store in Sri Lanka at One Galle Face Mall under its exclusive partnership with HONOR. HONOR, partnered with Singer since April 2023, has become the number-one smartphone brand in Sri Lanka and the store showcases its flagship devices and accessories.

SLT‑MOBITEL held the Athletics Championships on 20 June 2026 at Sugathadasa Stadium as part of the inaugural SLT‑MOBITEL Games 2026, completing track & field events and an awards ceremony. Additional sports (badminton, cricket, football, swimming, etc.) are scheduled in the coming weeks to promote employee engagement and wellbeing.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) has launched SLIM DIGIS 2.6, a national digital marketing awards platform themed 'Mission to Extraordinary', and is opening entries — including international participants — to recognise digital marketing excellence.