News & market updates

The Sri Lanka–Greater Mekong Business Council held its 14th AGM and elected Nimal Ratnayake (Lanka Hospitals) as President for 2025–2026; committee seats went to firms including Aitken Spence Travels and Hayleys Advantis as the council promotes trade, tourism and sectoral collaboration (textiles, tea, IT, healthcare).

Keerthi Kodithuwakku, CEO of Jendo Innovations, was awarded the CSSL ICT Leader of the Year (Male) 2024; Jendo developed an AI-powered non-invasive vascular screening system that detects early-stage disease in about 15 minutes. The startup is positioned as a Sri Lankan biomedical innovation aiming to expand accessible, cost-effective diagnostics.

Medihelp Hospitals has integrated Moratuwa Medical Center into its network, retaining existing services and staff while gradually aligning the center’s infrastructure and medical systems with Medihelp’s nationwide standards.

Thailand's counselor highlighted the Sri Lanka–Thailand FTA as a milestone, citing opportunities in food, agriculture, tourism, healthcare and IT. The Sri Lanka–Greater Mekong Business Council held its 14th AGM and elected Nimal Ratnayake as President for 2025–2026.

Dialog Axiata (DIAL.N0000) is the Title Sponsor of the 10th Annual Dialog Club Vision Rotary Par 3 Golf Classic on 25 Oct 2025 to raise funds for the 'Rotary for Little Hearts' project, which has raised over US$600,000 toward a US$1m target for paediatric cardiac care. Hayleys (HAYL.N0000) is listed among other partners.

Southern Cross University and NSBM Green University will sign a partnership on 24 October to deliver Australian degrees locally at NSBM, launching a Bachelor of Business in January 2026 with plans to expand into information technology and health programs.

Sri Lanka and the Asian Development Bank signed a $106.9 million financing package (a $100m loan and $6.9m grant) to support the Strengthening Integrated Health Care and Governance for Universal Health Coverage Program. The results-based program will target first referral/secondary care, pandemic preparedness, and pharmaceutical supply chain and technical capacity.

Sri Lanka signed a $100m loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank to develop the health sector. The program targets first-referral care, pandemic prevention/preparedness/response, health sector technical capacity and pharmaceutical supply-chain management, and includes a $6.9m grant.

Sri Lanka signed a USD 100.0m ADB loan and a USD 6.9m Pandemic Fund grant on 17 October 2025 to finance the Strengthening Integrated Health Care and Governance for Universal Health Coverage Program. The program will focus on first-referral care, pandemic preparedness, and improving health-sector capacity and pharmaceutical supply chain management, to be executed by the Ministry of Health and provincial health departments.

Government amends the bonded warehouse scheme to grant duty and tax exemptions for capital goods in priority sectors and adds renewable energy storage as eligible, effective 15 October 2025. Eligible renewable projects must involve ≥1 MW generation or ≥1 MWh storage; covered sectors include dairy, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, solid waste management and renewable energy.

Vision Care organised an awareness walk from Viharamahadevi Park to Independence Square with the Ceylon Council of Optometry and Orthoptics to mark World Sight Day 2025 and promote preventive eye care. The event highlighted early detection amid WHO data that 2.2 billion people have vision impairment, with 1 billion potentially preventable or unaddressed.

Disinfo2025 in Ljubljana convened global experts to tackle digital disinformation and AI-driven synthetic content, urging stronger international cooperation and measures such as early-warning systems and regional monitoring hubs to protect information integrity and critical sectors including health.

Durdans Hospital has opened a state-of-the-art Vascular Clinic in Sri Lanka offering advanced diagnostics, minimally invasive vascular interventions and non-invasive imaging to provide specialist vascular care locally.

IPS urges converting Sri Lanka's cyclical recovery into structurally driven growth through technology infusion, digitalisation and institutional reforms, noting GDP grew 4.9% in H1 2025.

SLIIT's SICET 2025 concluded after four days, receiving 173 submissions and accepting 102 papers while introducing a 16-paper Industry Track to boost academia–industry R&D. Panels and keynotes prioritized AI/6G, clean energy, healthtech, advanced manufacturing and shared national research infrastructure.

AIA Sri Lanka held its Partnership Distribution Diamond Club 2025 in Osaka (11–14 June), recognising top bancassurance performers for FY2024, including representatives from NDB and Commercial Bank.

eChannelling launched eMindCare, a holistic digital mental wellbeing platform providing psychiatry, counselling, yoga, meditation and educational resources via web and mobile to expand access to mental health services across Sri Lanka.

Deutsche Bank reaffirmed its 45-year commitment to Sri Lanka and said it will support the recovery by providing corporate and investment banking, trade finance, foreign-exchange services and assistance to re-engage with global capital markets.

Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC is the Platinum Sponsor of Medicare – International Healthcare Exhibition 2026, taking place 6–8 March 2026 at BMICH, Colombo. Asiri operates six internationally accredited hospitals and a large nationwide lab network, highlighting its high-volume cardiac, neuro and diagnostic services.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake carried out a pre-Budget cabinet reshuffle, appointing three new ministers and 10 deputy ministers, including Bimal Rathnayake (Transport, Highways & Urban Development), Anura Karunathilake (Ports & Civil Aviation) and H.M. Susil Ranasinghe (Housing, Construction & Water Supply). The President retains the Finance, Planning and Digital Economy portfolios.

Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa visited LAUGFS Life Sciences’ sterile LVP facility in the BOI Koggala EPZ; the company is preparing to produce large-volume parenterals using Euro Multiport and Form-Fill-Seal technologies to reduce import reliance.

DiabSense won Venture Engine 2025 for its AI-powered thermal and visual imaging to help detect diabetic foot complications. AGC Innovate and Spectrify AI were named first and second runners-up from a field of over 175 applicants and 12 finalists.

Hemas Holdings (HHL.N0000) launched a state-of-the-art tertiary hospital in Thalawathugoda with a LKR 10 billion investment, doubling capacity to 150 beds and employing about 900 staff. The facility adds advanced cardiac, robotic and specialist services and will host a robotic surgery training centre.

World Bank says Sri Lanka's recovery remains incomplete, projects GDP growth of 4.6% in 2025 and 3.5% in 2026, and urges urgent structural reforms and more efficient, better-targeted public spending to boost private investment and complete/maintain infrastructure.

Hemas Holdings' pharmaceutical arm launched 'Hair Buddy', its first direct-to-consumer, digital-first hair care brand developed with Oproma Cosmetics. The NMRA-approved, dermatologically tested product will be sold via a dedicated e-commerce platform with Chandrasiri & Sons as exclusive distributor.

Huawei unveiled a three-step “ACT” pathway and nine industrial-intelligence solutions at HUAWEI CONNECT 2025; customer cases include a banking master–sub-agent architecture improving revenue and efficiency, China Southern Power Grid’s 'MegaWatt' boosting inspection efficiency fivefold and >90% accuracy, and a medical-record appliance cutting record generation to about one second.

Softlogic Life (part of the Softlogic group) was shortlisted as a finalist in two categories — ‘Digital Insurer of the Year’ and ‘AI Initiative of the Year’ — at the 29th Asia Insurance Industry Awards 2025. The company highlighted AI and digital platforms (Insta Claim, E-Advisor, automated claims) that have sped settlements, automated 35% of claims and serve 1.3M customers.

The Rotary Club of Colombo East and Boutiques in Sri Lanka hosted an SME Conclave workshop to equip boutique hotel SMEs to drive Sri Lanka's tourism revival. Sessions covered wellness/medical integration, AI and digital tools, digital payments and tailored financing to boost competitiveness and access to capital.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission announced the Notice of Assignment for the 2025 5G frequency auction, initiating a 40-day process with the auction expected to conclude within about two months after the notice. Officials said 5G will support growth in healthcare, education, agriculture and apparel.

Aditya Resort and Christell Life launched 'Wellness by the Sea', a beachfront luxury medical-wellness destination in Galle combining modern aesthetic medicine with traditional Ayurvedic therapies to position Sri Lanka as a medical wellness tourism hub.