News & market updates

SPAR Sri Lanka opened a new Kandy outlet (Mar 30) and will open a Kurunegala store in April, expanding its island network to 12 stores with a 13th due soon.

Haleon Lanka partnered with the Sri Lanka Dental Association for World Oral Health Day 2026, running nationwide awareness programs and free dental screening camps that provided professional assessments to over 10,000 participants. The campaign highlighted Sensodyne’s focus on dental sensitivity and the company says it will continue initiatives throughout the year.

Unilever Sri Lanka has relocated its Head Office to the Mireka Towers after 87 years at the Grandpass premises, moving into a purpose-designed workspace intended to support collaboration, innovation and employee wellbeing.

Uber Eats has signed an exclusive partnership with Delmo to offer Delmo’s fresh chicken and value-added meat products on the Uber Eats app, launching with 10 outlets and with plans to expand nationwide.

Colombo Stock Exchange jumped as ASPI closed up 3.79% at 21,868.85 and the S&P SL20 rose 3.81% to 6,134.23. Top positives included Commercial Bank, HNB, Melstacorp, John Keells and Hayleys; turnover was Rs.6.41bn with highest activity in food, beverages & tobacco.

Deloitte Sri Lanka hosted an exclusive forum on 4 March 2026 to help Sri Lanka's consumer sector plan cross-border expansion, with a focus on India. Speakers stressed tax/regulatory due diligence, long-term commitment, partner selection, ESG and use of FTAs; IFC noted ~US$1bn invested in Sri Lankan corporates over the past five years.

Deloitte Sri Lanka urged Sri Lankan consumer companies to deepen their understanding of tax and regulatory frameworks and form strategic partnerships to succeed in cross-border expansion, with India highlighted as a key market. Panelists stressed due diligence, ESG standards, FTAs and risks like permanent establishment when entering new markets.

CDP Group is expanding its business portfolio into tourism, finance, insurance and retail supermarket operations as it builds a diversified group focused on sustainable growth, employee development and customer trust.

Sri Lanka's ASPI rose 3.38% to 21,784.11 and the S&P SL20 climbed 3.63% to 6,123.82; market turnover was Rs.2.3bn. Top contributors included Hatton National Bank, Commercial Bank, John Keells, Melstacorp and Dialog, while food, beverage & tobacco led turnover (Rs.834m).

The ASPI rose 3.47% (706.26 pts) to 21,071.23, recovering Rs. 244 billion on reports of a possible de‑escalation in the Middle East; the S&P SL20 gained 3.91% to 5,909.23. Market turnover exceeded Rs. 4.2 billion with gains led by Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank, John Keells and Colombo Dockyard while foreigners were net sellers.

Sri Lanka thanked Iran for an offer to supply oil but said it cannot accept because it has no ship to import; the government has floated tenders and expects fuel shipments to cover needs until end-April. The country has implemented fuel rationing, is exploring a G2G deal with Russia, and oil prices have risen about 35%, lifting transport and food costs.

ADB announced a financial support package to help its developing member countries mitigate economic and financial impacts from the Middle East conflict, including fast-disbursing budget support and reactivated trade and supply-chain finance for oil imports. The bank will mobilize countercyclical lending and TSCFP support to address energy price volatility, supply disruptions, inflationary pressures and risks to tourism and trade.

Fitch warns APAC sovereign credit profiles face heightened downside from a prolonged Iran conflict as higher oil prices and supply disruptions raise inflation, weaken growth and worsen public finances; an adverse scenario assumes Brent at about $128/bbl in 2Q26 and $100/bbl for 2026. Net fossil-fuel importers (e.g. India, Korea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Maldives, Thailand) would be hardest hit, while supply-chain and fertiliser disruptions could amplify inflation and food-security risks.

Indian sugar mills locked in about 100,000 metric tons of export shipments in a week as a record-low rupee and rising global prices restored the economics of overseas sales. Mills have contracted roughly 550,000 tons this season and India raised its export quota to 2 million tons.

Essential food importers warn retail prices could rise 10–20% ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year as higher bunker fuel, freight and war-risk insurance costs plus a weakening rupee lift landed costs, while assuring there are currently no shortages.

Focus Reliance Holdings won Best Microfinance Provider at the Global Business Excellence Awards 2025 and the Microfinance Leader Award at the People’s Excellency Awards 2024 for its microfinance services. The private firm offers diverse microfinance products and has expanded into distribution and retail with an FRH supermarket in Pitakotte.

The SLID-KPMG Audit Committee Forum (9 Mar 2026) urged audit committees to oversee ESG reporting under SLFRS S1/S2; panellists from Aitken Spence, MAS, Lion Brewery and DFCC discussed governance, data controls, implementation and sustainable financing.

Sri Lanka's NCPI inflation fell to 1.6% year‑on‑year in February 2026, down from 2.4% in January 2026. Food inflation eased to 1.1% (from 3.4%) while non-food inflation rose to 1.9% (from 1.6%).

Iran says it will supply fuel and other essentials to Sri Lanka if requested, as Sri Lanka faces severe fuel shortages, a 25% recent price hike, aggressive rationing and reserves estimated to last six weeks. The government has imposed a four-day public-sector week and bears roughly LKR 20 billion monthly in fuel subsidies.

Sri Lanka Bottled Water Association has asked President Dissanayake to revoke or suspend CAA Gazette No.2430/15 that sets MRPs for bottled water (e.g., Rs.70 for 500–999ml, Rs.100 for 1–1.499L). The group says rising fuel, PET, shipping and electricity costs make the fixed prices unsustainable for small and medium producers.

Antler Group's Britol range will use GP Certified recycled plastics to replace up to 40% of imported virgin plastic in some products, increasing certified recycled content in FMCG packaging. The initiative is positioned to support EPR compliance, strengthen local recycling and create jobs.

DFCC Bank launched its Avurudu 2026 card campaign offering customers up to 70% savings at merchants, up to 3% cashback and 0% easy payment plans up to 48 months. The campaign highlights contactless/online transactions, fraud protection and digital banking tools to help manage seasonal spending.

Unilever Sri Lanka won five categories at the SLIM-Kantar People's Awards 2026, with Vaseline, Sunsilk, Signal, Vim and Sunlight recognised. Chairman Ali Tariq said the awards reflect consumer preference and the strength of the company's marketing, R&D, supply chain and sales.

Hatton National Bank PLC launched its 'Happiness Cards' campaign, offering cardholders savings of up to 70%, 0% interest installment plans (up to 48 months) and offers across 300+ merchant partners covering shopping, travel, dining and household spending.

New Anthoney’s Farms attended the Healthy Living Expo 2026 for the third consecutive year and marked its 40th anniversary. The farm promoted its antibiotic-free poultry, highlighted an MoU with the University of Peradeniya on sustainable poultry research, and noted its Official Poultry Partner role with MasterChef Sri Lanka.

Share split · 1:2 · XD Mar 20, 2026

Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board launched a pig insurance scheme to cover deaths of breeding pigs on registered commercial farms with coverage up to Rs.200,000 per animal for pigs aged 6 months to 4.5 years. Claims cover deaths from accidents and diseases and require adherence to Department of Animal Production and Health biosecurity rules.

Asian Paints Causeway won the top category at the Effie Awards Sri Lanka 2025 for its 'AquaSafe' SmartCare marketing campaign, credited with repositioning the waterproofing product (2x superior elongation, resistance to algae/fungi, withstands up to 3 bars) and expanding its premium exterior market footprint.

World Oral Health Day (March 20) urges attention to gum health, recommending brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste (e.g., Clogard Natural Salt), regular flossing and six-month dental checkups to prevent gum disease. The piece notes gum disease links to diabetes and cardiovascular risks and that early-stage disease is reversible.

Strikes on ammonia plants in Iran have reduced ammonia/urea supply and helped push fertilizer prices about 40% higher in South Asian markets, risking higher rice and other agricultural prices and food-security strains. The article also highlights rodenticides market growth and Chinese space-mouse research.