News & market updates

SLFPA and LECS will stage Profood Propack & Agbiz Knowledge Hub 2026 at BMICH, Colombo from 21–23 August 2026. The sector-wide expo, endorsed by the Ministry of Industries, focuses on food processing, packaging and agri innovation and lists Cargills (Ceylon) Plc among its platinum sponsors.

Asia Securities convened 150+ investors and corporate leaders at the Sri Lanka Investor Conference 2026 to present a constructive capital-market outlook, with speakers citing roughly 4% GDP growth prospects for 2026. Panels highlighted construction, banking/finance, consumer and digital sectors as key growth drivers and projected strong corporate earnings expansion.

Sri Lanka's Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry and EDB held diplomatic meetings to promote Sri Lanka Expo 2026 (18–21 June 2026 at BMICH) and attract international buyers and investors. The outreach targeted participation across apparel, tea, spices, rubber, ICT services, food & beverages and industrial manufacturing.

Russel’s Wellness launched a mentoring initiative to develop employees into entrepreneurs who will promote the company's wellness tea products to corporate clients, combining mentorship with practical market engagement to expand brand reach and social impact.

Sri Lanka is strengthening global trade partnerships to promote Sri Lanka Expo 2026 (18–21 June 2026 at BMICH, Colombo), aiming to attract international buyers and investors across apparel, tea, spices, rubber, ICT services, food & beverages and industrial manufacturing. A high-level EDB and ministry delegation met UK, Indonesian and Korean envoys to boost participation.

HerProgress.OurProsperity, a national women-led movement, was launched on March 8, 2026, with seven priority pillars addressing safety, legal recourse, women’s health (including period poverty), digital protection and economic empowerment to drive grassroots change across Sri Lanka.

ACP Asset Management launched the first Sri Lanka-focused UCITS fund, seeded with $10m and expecting a further $25m within 30 days, targeting $100m AUM in 6–12 months. The fund will invest in Sri Lankan equities, sovereign eurobonds and liquid treasury instruments and aims to draw foreign capital into sectors including banking, construction, F&B and tourism.

Nestlé Lanka will invest Rs. 9 billion over the next four years to expand its Pannala manufacturing facility, focusing on scaling coconut milk powder production for export. The company said it will not reduce staff, supports thousands of farmers and aims to be 100% plastic neutral by 2026.

Colombo market rebounded as the ASPI rose 2.17% (474.38 pts) to 22,378.52 after global oil prices fell below $95/bbl, with gains led by banks and blue-chips including HNB, SAMP, COMB and DIAL and turnover of about Rs.4.48bn.

DCSL Breweries Lanka has launched Aliya Beer into international export markets, offering Strong and Lager variants. The company says the launch aims to raise Aliya's profile in key international markets and build global brand awareness.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board has opened applications for Sri Lanka Expo 2026 (18–21 June at BMICH), offering 650 booths and opportunities to meet over 1,500 global buyers; applications close 31 March 2026. Sectors covered include industrial and agro-industrial products and services such as ICT, tourism, renewable energy and healthcare.

Colombo Stock Exchange's ASPI rose 2.17% to 22,378.52 on Tuesday as global oil fell below $100/bbl. Hatton National Bank, Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank and Dialog Axiata were top positive contributors; Softlogic Holdings (up 47.22% after six crossings) and Renuka Hotels saw notable turnover.

Nestlé Lanka celebrates 120 years of operations in Sri Lanka and reports it now manufactures over 90% of the products sold locally. The company highlighted sustainability steps including a biomass boiler commissioned in 2024, 100% renewable electricity at its Kurunegala facility, and a target to be 100% plastic neutral by 2026.

Elvoir, Sri Lanka’s first certified perfumer-led fragrance brand, is manufacturing IFRA/ISO/GMP-certified luxury perfumes locally and targeting exports. It has sold out limited editions, partners with hospitality brands, and is expanding into candles, smart diffusers and personal-care lines.

Exterminators PLC launched the portable Insect-O-Cutor Nomad UV LED mosquito killer with up to 18 hours runtime, IPX4 water resistance and ~30 m² coverage; company trials show it captures significantly more mosquitoes than leading competitors.

Fcode Labs launched Forevate, a real-time market intelligence platform combining internal data and external signals to help firms respond faster; the solution initially targets manufacturing, logistics, retail/e‑commerce and FMCG across Asia, Europe and North America.

Lanka Milk Foods' Ambewela Dairy Farm donated 10 heifer cows worth 15 million to selected farmers during a visit by Agriculture Minister K.D. Lalkantha. Ambewela reports daily milk production of 65,000 litres and reached 23.5 million litres annual production in 2025.

Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC (CTC.N0000) awarded its Chairman’s Award 2025 to Nishanga Dissanayake, Customer Development Manager, at its annual awards ceremony; additional individual and group winners were also recognised.

DCSL Breweries Lanka is launching Aliya Beer into international export markets, offering Strong and Lager variants to build global brand awareness.

Sri Lanka Export Development Board has opened applications for Sri Lanka Expo 2026, a four-day international trade exhibition from 18–21 June 2026 at BMICH offering 650 booths and access to over 1,500 global buyers; application deadline is 31 March 2026.

Thailand Week 2026 concluded after a three-day fair that highlighted bilateral trade reaching $649m last year, a 48% increase from $438m in 2024. The event showcased 30 Thai firms across food, cosmetics and household goods, and officials urged full implementation of the Sri Lanka–Thailand FTA to attract investment.

Maharaja Foods PLC's Rs.112.5 million 1-for-10 rights issue was oversubscribed, receiving total subscriptions of 24,723,629 shares. Proceeds will fund a SPAR–Maharaja SaveMore outlet, Rs.50m to settle loans with Hatton National Bank and a Rs.15m ready-meal product launch.

Montblanc has launched Explorer Extreme Parfum in Sri Lanka through Exclusive Lines, the brand’s sole authorised agent; the new, deeper Parfum concentration is now available exclusively at Exclusive Lines outlets and authorised retail partners nationwide.

John Keells Holdings’ John Keells Foundation marked International Women’s Day by highlighting programmes that have empowered hundreds of women—covering livelihoods, scholarships and a Rural BPO in partnership with Infomate—and noting beneficiaries now supply Keells Supermarket.

Ceylon Agro Industries (Prima Group Sri Lanka) won the Bronze Award in the Confectionery Products – Large Sector category at the National Export Awards 2025. The award highlights its Prima KottuMee brand, which exports to over 25 countries.

Darley Butler (FMCG arm of E B Creasy & Co. PLC) launched the "We Must Change" campaign and will roll out refill pouches for Teepol, Bio Clean, Softny and Bubble All Out from 6 March 2026, targeting up to a 70% reduction in rigid plastic use.

Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS.N0000) has installed an extrusion line at its Avissawella BOI facility to roll out new Elephant House Wonder and IMORICH ice‑cream formats, enabling layered cores, premium coatings and new formats (cakes, logs, frozen sandwiches) to boost its product portfolio.

Nestlé Lanka Chairman and Managing Director Bernie Stefan received the CEO of the Year Award 2025 from the Global CEO Forum in recognition of his leadership and strategic focus.

Sri Lanka received USD 729 million in worker remittances in February 2026 and USD 1.48 billion in January–February 2026, a 32% year-on-year increase. February was slightly lower than January's USD 751.1 million.

Sri Lanka's national poverty line rose to Rs. 16,730 per person per month in January 2026, up from Rs. 16,334 a year earlier. Most districts recorded increases of about Rs. 380–Rs. 430, with Colombo highest at Rs. 18,044 and Moneragala lowest at Rs. 15,997.