News & market updates

The Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2025 (Dec 2-3, Colombo) will host a 'Why Sri Lanka – Investor View' session with IFC Regional Director Imad Fakhoury as keynote speaker. A panel of industry leaders will discuss strategies to attract long-term private investment and boost exports.

Ceylon Electricity Board has tendered for a 100MW/100MWh battery energy system at Kolonnawa, funded by an Asian Development Bank credit, to upgrade the grid for more intermittent renewables. The CEB has also called bids for a 160MW/640MWh BOO BESS and is planning pumped storage.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon Deputy GM Hasrath Munasinghe spoke at the UN Global Compact annual sessions in New York, presenting on Sri Lanka's sustainability landscape and the bank's responsible banking initiatives. He highlighted opportunities in climate financing for energy transition, biodiversity, AI-based projects and gender-smart finance.

Aitken Spence Logistics (part of Aitken Spence PLC) won the Sustainability Award and was Runner-up in Market Segment Customer Service at the CILT Awards 2025. The wins recognize its green-growth initiative and customer-service ‘One-Stop-Shop’ solutions driven by technology.

David Pieris Automobiles has been appointed the authorised distributor for GWM in Sri Lanka and will launch GWM's hybrid and new energy vehicle range, including the Haval H6 Hybrid, Haval GT PHEV, Tank 300/500 Hybrids and the ORA electric. DPA will market and provide after-sales support for the lineup through its nationwide network.

Colombo Stock Exchange extended its rally to a 13th session as the ASPI rose 0.46% (100.49 pts) to 21,951.79 with turnover of Rs.6.5bn and foreign net inflows of Rs.46.4m. Banking, capital goods and food/beverage counters led activity, with Melstacorp, Access Engineering, Union Bank, RCL and NDB among top contributors.

Ceylon Chamber chairman Krishan Balendra told Japanese investors in Tokyo that Sri Lanka is on a path to economic revival (economic activity ~5% of GDP) and invited investment in apparel, agri-exports, renewable energy, logistics and IT services.

Colombo Stock Exchange's Annual Report 2024 won the Gold Award at the LACP Vision Awards for the second consecutive year. The report highlights CSE initiatives including Green Bond trading, frameworks for sustainable and blue bonds, and technological integration to support a green economy.

Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC's Deputy GM Hasrath Munasinghe presented the bank's sustainability leadership at the UN Global Compact annual sessions in New York. He highlighted climate financing, renewable energy, gender-smart finance and AI-related sustainability projects; the bank is Sri Lanka's first 100% carbon-neutral bank and an early adopter of IFRS S1/S2 reporting.

Colombo Stock Exchange's Annual Report 2024 won the Gold Award at the LACP 2024 Vision Awards plus four other awards, including the Technical Achievement Award and Top 100 rankings in Asia-Pacific and worldwide. The report highlights CSE initiatives such as launching Green Bond trading and frameworks for Sustainable and Blue Bonds.

DSI Samson Group Ltd has appointed eight new board members across its subsidiaries, raising group leadership to 14 as part of a long-term succession plan. Appointees will join boards including Samtessi Brush, Samson Solar Power, Primo, Samson Trading, Samson Rajarata Tiles and corporate services.

John Keells CG Auto (JKCG) said BYD electric vehicle consignments remain detained by Sri Lanka Customs, delaying EV deliveries and offering customers booked before 11 September 2025 the options to switch to a BYD SEALION 5 with a discount, receive a refund with interest (if by 10 October 2025), or retain their booking. JKCG said BYD PHEV imports, warranties and after-sales support remain unaffected and it will not require payment advances for EV bookings.

DSI Samson Group appointed eight new board members across its subsidiaries, bringing total leadership to 14 to strengthen succession planning and leadership across its manufacturing, solar and other business units.

The Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry held its 17th AGM on 26 September; M. Raghuraman was re-elected president and Lanka IOC MD Dipak Das was elected a vice-president. Panelists urged deeper India–Sri Lanka cooperation in energy, digital infrastructure and trade; committee includes Hemas, John Keells, Lanka Ashok Leyland, PGP Glass, Sunshine and TAL Lanka Hotels.

John Keells' auto arm (JKCG) is offering customers BYD Sealion plug-in hybrids or refunds after Sri Lanka Customs detained around 2,000 BYD EVs in a dispute over motor-capacity taxation; JKCG has called for independent accredited testing and set refund/switch deadlines and fees.

DFCC Bank has issued Sri Lanka’s first Blue Bond, a LKR 3 billion issuance to finance ocean-related projects including marine renewable energy, sustainable fisheries, coastal tourism, and water infrastructure. The bond is expected to receive a Fitch rating of 'A(EXP)(lka)' and follows ICMA sustainability principles.

DFCC Bank PLC said its green bond (already listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange) was listed on the India International Exchange (IFSC) Limited on 26 September 2025; trading and settlement will continue via the CSE in rupees.

DFCC Bank launched Sri Lanka’s first Blue Bond, a Rs. 3 billion issue (expected Fitch rating 'A(EXP)(lka)') to finance projects protecting marine resources. The bond funds marine renewables, sustainable fisheries, eco-tourism, wastewater management and coastal climate adaptation.

US State Department's 2025 Investment Climate Statement says stalled SOE privatisations—notably the Ceylon Electricity Board—rigid labour rules and limits on foreign participation are weighing on Sri Lanka’s investment outlook. It warns high costs and opaque procurement threaten the government's $5bn FDI target for 2025.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake invited the Japanese business community to explore investment opportunities in Sri Lanka, highlighting priority sectors including manufacturing, ICT/digital (data centres), renewable energy and tourism.

Hayleys PLC's Hayleys Fentons and Hayleys Solar won three awards at the Sri Lankan Sustainability Awards 2025; Hayleys Solar reached a 250 MW milestone in 2024 and aims to surpass 500 MW by end-2025.

The Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry held its 17th AGM on 26 Sep 2025; M. Raghuraman was re-elected President and Dipak Das (MD, Lanka IOC) and Krishna Selvanathan were elected Vice Presidents. The ILCCI committee includes Hemas, Lanka Ashok Leyland, PGP Glass, Sunshine and TAL Lanka Hotels among others.

Hayleys Fibre commissioned a Rs. 600 million, 48-acre integrated coir processing facility in Nikaweratiya that will meet about one-third of its raw material needs and boost export-oriented coir production and rural employment.

YANGWANG, BYD’s luxury sub-brand, set a production-car top-speed record of 496.22 km/h with its U9 Xtreme during a Sept 14, 2025 run in Germany. The limited-run hypercar uses a 1,200V electrical architecture, four motors producing over 3,000 PS and a Blade Battery.

SLT-MOBITEL returned to profitability in H1 2025 with PAT of LKR 4.28 billion, revenue LKR 55.2 billion and EBITDA LKR 21.7 billion, and says it will accelerate national digitalisation by launching commercial 5G and managing the Lanka Government Network and Cloud.

Abans Electricals MD Dr. Saroshi Dubash was honoured with the 'Sri Lanka Woman Leader' award at the World Women Leadership Congress & Awards on 10 September. The piece highlights her leadership across Abans, early e-commerce and digitisation initiatives, and the development of a sustainable Abans Logistics centre.

Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe told an Osaka business forum that Sri Lanka is officially out of bankruptcy and is seeking Japanese investment across apparel, agriculture, ICT, renewables and tourism to support an export-driven recovery.

The Global Dialogue Forum held an international conclave in Colombo on 20 September to explore how AI can power renewable energy, enhance agricultural productivity and food security, and strengthen cybersecurity. The full-day event gathered policymakers, academics and industry leaders from the region and beyond.

The Sri Lanka Banks' Association submitted 2026 budget proposals to Deputy Minister Anil Fernando urging targeted credit guarantees, accelerated tax deductibility for impairments, SME digitisation, a national cloud and incentives for green lending and tax-free green/PPP bonds. Proposals also cover VAT/TIN rules, fintech incentives and funding for tea replanting.

Fitch assigned Hayleys Fentons Limited a National Long-Term Rating of A+(lka) with a Stable Outlook, citing its leading domestic rooftop solar market share that drove FY25 cash flow. Fitch noted a one‑notch uplift from parent Hayleys PLC and flagged execution and CEB offtaker risks for planned power projects.