News & market updates

The Science and Technology Ministry opened the 'Harvest Centre' technology incubation centre at the University of Ruhuna Faculty of Agriculture to support agribusiness and food-technology startups in the Southern Province. The centre will provide lab testing, packaging advice and technical and management support to help SMEs add value and access domestic and export markets.

Share split · 1:2 · XD Mar 20, 2026

O 2 Imports Exports & Distributors won the People’s Pinnacle – Most Outstanding Café Equipment & Beverage Manufacturing Company of the Year 2025. The company produces O2 CAFE instant tea and coffee premixes and supplies commercial coffee and tea vending machines to corporate and hospitality clients.

Sunshine Holdings (CSE: SUN) launched OneHR HCM, a Group-wide Oracle-based people management platform, with an initial rollout to over 1,700 employees in its Healthcare and Consumer units to strengthen workforce governance and support future growth.

Ali Tariq, Chairman and CEO of Unilever Sri Lanka, has been appointed Cluster Head for Unilever's growth markets covering Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos and will report to Unilever’s Global Executive.

Rights issue · 1:10 at Rs 9.00 · XD Feb 2, 2026

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened high-level meetings to review economic risks from the Middle East conflict and ordered monitoring and contingency measures for fuel supplies, tourism, exports and migrant workers. He also asked the Finance Ministry to study a technology-sector investment relief package.

Sri Lanka's 60+ population is over 18% and could reach 25% by 2041, creating opportunity for a 'Silver Economy' if jobs, savings and care services expand. Low labour participation, limited pensions and a projected 149,076 care-worker shortfall by 2037 require policies on retirement, pensions, insurance and scaled elder-care.

M One Group won 22 honours at the 2025 Effie Awards, with M One Integrations and Thinkfinity securing multiple Bronze awards and Finalist placements. Notable recognized campaigns included work for SLTMobitel, Sustagen and Jellegen.

Daraz Sri Lanka’s 3.3 sale runs 2–7 March with up to 85% off, free delivery and Rs. 20 million in vouchers. Commercial Bank, DFCC, Nations Trust, LOLC Finance and Sampath Bank are listed as partner banks offering sitewide card offers and installment plans up to 36 months.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake led a high-level discussion to assess the potential impact of the Middle East war on Sri Lanka’s economy and instructed urgent measures, including a relief package to promote investment in modern technology and data centres. Officials reviewed risks to fuel and gas supplies, stockpiles, tourism, ports, food security and inflation.

Fitch assigned a National Long-Term Rating of 'AAA(lka)' to Hayleys PLC’s proposed unsecured senior redeemable debentures of up to Rs. 7 billion. Fitch said the rating is in line with Hayleys’ national rating but noted subsidiary debt/EBITDA rose to 2.9x in 3QFY26 (vs a 2.5x threshold) and is expected to moderate.

Bernie Stefan, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé Lanka, was honoured at the CEO of the Year Awards 2025 for his leadership and long-term strategic focus, recognising his work since 2023 to strengthen Nestlé’s presence in Sri Lanka.

New Media Solutions emerged as the most awarded corporate communications agency at the Effie Awards Sri Lanka 2026, winning two Silver Effies for Daintee, two Bronze for Zesta and multiple Merit finalist recognitions for campaigns for Softlogic Life Insurance.

Headline inflation (CCPI) YoY decelerated to 1.6% in February 2026 from 2.3% in January, with food inflation falling to 0.2% while non-food inflation rose and core inflation eased to 2.1%. The CBSL projects inflation will move toward a 5% target by H2 2026, and the target is under review amid criticism.

Hayleys PLC’s proposed unsecured senior redeemable debentures of up to LKR7 billion were assigned a 'AAA(lka)' National Long-Term Rating by Fitch. Fitch noted subsidiary debt to consolidated EBITDA rose to 2.9x in 3QFY26, expects it to moderate to ~2.5x by FY27 and said failure could lower the debentures one notch.

Dr. T. Senthilverl acquired a near 10% stake in Renuka Agri Foods PLC for Rs. 1 billion. Trading saw 82.36m Renuka Agri shares change hands for Rs. 1.14 billion and Renuka Foods PLC remains the biggest shareholder at 67.89%.

Full’r Burgers has been named the Official Burger Partner for the 147th Battle of the Blues (Royal College vs St. Thomas’) from March 12–14, marking the third consecutive year of the partnership. The QSR will serve its signature range of burgers to fans across the three-day event.

David Pieris Motor Company ran the 'Bajaj Genuine Supiri Ware' promotion, awarding a brand-new Bajaj three-wheeler as first prize and a Bajaj Pulsar N160 motorcycle as second prize, plus multiple cash prizes, tyre vouchers and parts vouchers to dozens of winners.

Fitch assigned a 'AAA(lka)' National Long-Term Rating to Hayleys PLC's proposed unsecured senior redeemable debentures of up to LKR7 billion. Fitch noted subsidiary debt-to-consolidated-EBITDA rose to 2.9x in 3QFY26 (limit 2.5x) but expects it to moderate toward 2.5x in FY27, otherwise ratings risk.

Colombo stock market closed February lower: ASPI fell 47 points (0.2%) and the S&P SL20 dropped 74 points (>1%) with turnover of Rs.7 billion. Banks, conglomerates and blue-chips (COMB, JKH, HNB, CTC, LLUB) weighed on the index while Renuka Agri Foods rose and foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.363.8m.

Cargills' subsidiary CPC Lanka (Knuckles Spring Water) introduced Sri Lanka's first tethered bottle cap to improve plastic waste management and recyclability. The cap remains attached after opening to reduce discarded caps and support more complete collection and recycling.

Russel’s Wellness showcased Ayurveda-inspired wellness teas and medicinal formulations at Gulfood 2026, drawing strong interest from global buyers and a visit from Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, highlighting export potential for Sri Lanka’s heritage wellness sector.

Diamond Best Foods provided brand-new Nissan Magnite vehicles to all Area Sales Managers under the “Driving the Growth” initiative. The fleet rollout aims to boost field sales by enabling faster customer outreach, improved service levels and stronger store partnerships.

Food inflation in Colombo fell to 0.2% Y-o-Y in February 2026, bringing headline CCPI inflation to 1.6% Y-o-Y and the month-on-month CCPI down 0.85%, driven mainly by lower vegetable and green chilli prices.

Colombo stocks rose with the ASPI up 0.33% to 23,781.23, led by blue-chip gains from JKH, HAYL, MELS, AEL and LMF. Banking counters faced selling pressure after Q4 results while capital goods drove turnover (27%); foreigners were net buyers of Rs.194m.

Colombo bourse turnover topped Rs.7.01 billion while the ASPI fell 47.17 pts to 23,734.06 and the S&P SL20 dropped 74.20 pts to 6,635.97. Renuka Agri Foods PLC accounted for Rs.1.14 billion of on-board trades; domestic buyers dominated and foreigners were net sellers (purchases Rs.164m, sales Rs.528m).

Kumudika Fernando, Chairperson of the Maliban Group, was honored at the CEO of the Year Awards 2025 for leading Maliban’s operational growth and international expansion, including a landmark partnership with Reliance Consumer Products that opened broad access to the Indian market.

Global Biz Connect 2026 will be held in Colombo at Cinnamon Life on 3 March 2026, bringing diplomats, trade bodies, multinationals and investors together to connect Sri Lankan enterprises with international markets. Panels will cover industries including value-added tea, confectionery, hospitality and medical tourism.

Russel’s Catering opened a new outlet in Orion City's IT Hub food court, bringing its fast-casual menu to Colombo’s tech community. The outlet offers quick-service meals with vegetarian options and some locally sourced ingredients, and is expected to boost on-site dining choices and jobs.