News & market updates

Dialog Axiata PLC committed LKR 420 million to the Government’s Rebuilding Sri Lanka initiative to support recovery after Cyclone Ditwah. The funds will help restore and upgrade critical hospital infrastructure and refurbish ICT facilities in over 20 cyclone-affected schools.

CA Sri Lanka donated Rs. 10 million to the 'Rebuilding Sri Lanka' fund to support recovery and rehabilitation after the Ditwah cyclone. The donation cheque was handed to Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Colombo market rose as the ASPI gained 0.66% (150.67 pts) to 23,014.75, with market value up Rs.58.89 billion and turnover ~Rs.5.8 billion. Top contributors included Commercial Bank, ACL Cables, Dipped Products, Carson Cumberbatch, LOLC and Sampath, and foreigners were net buyers (~Rs.87.8m).

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 0.66% as the ASPI closed 150.67 points higher at 23,014.75. Top contributors included Commercial Bank, Carson Cumberbatch, ACL Cables, LOLC and Sampath Bank; turnover rose to 5.7 billion rupees and net foreign outflow was 87 million rupees.

Siam City Cement (Lanka) Limited (INSEE Lanka) appointed Eng. Thusith C. Gunawarnasuriya as Chief Executive Officer effective 01 January 2026. He succeeds Nandana Ekanayake (who remains Chairman) and rejoined INSEE Lanka as COO in Jan 2025, credited with driving topline growth and EBITDA improvements.

Bloombird Real Estate has launched Westbury Urbanside, a 28-unit residential apartment project in Kalubowila (three-bedroom + study units), with construction underway and the model apartment now open for inspection.

Sri Lanka's Colombo Stock Exchange rose on the first trading day of 2026, with the All Share Price Index up 1.26% to 22,910.46 and the S&P SL20 up 0.63% to 6,195.95 on turnover of 5.1 billion rupees. Top contributors included ACL Cables, Commercial Bank, Access Engineering and DFCC Bank, with construction and bank shares drawing investor interest as reconstruction followed Cyclone Ditwah.

Port of Colombo recorded a record throughput of 8,291,178 TEUs in 2025, the highest in its history. The increase from 7,792,069 TEUs in 2024 was driven by coordinated performance across SLPA terminals and operators (CICT, SAGT, CWIT), reinforcing Colombo's role as a South Asian transhipment hub.

Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said Sri Lanka's economy could exceed 5% growth in 2026 driven by reconstruction spending after Cyclone Ditwa, including an extra Rs 500 billion on top of about Rs 1.4 trillion in public investments. He warned the stimulus could raise inflation and strain foreign exchange reserves unless offset by higher exports, remittances, tourism and external financing.

SLIIT donated Rs. 20 million to the government's 'Rebuilding Sri Lanka' Fund and led flood-relief efforts. It also rehabilitated damaged school buildings and supported smart classrooms/ICT labs and basic utilities at affected schools.

John Keells Properties' TRI‑ZEN residential development (897 units) has launched an on-site Tea Avenue Daily Brew café exclusive to residents, enhancing on-site amenities and living experience.

Port City Colombo has commissioned public utility connections to Colombo’s main grid and attracted over $1bn in land development investments as it moves into full commercial operations. Browns Investments PLC (part of the LOLC group) has broken ground on a $120m Luxury Marina with berthing for 200 vessels.

Sri Lanka's construction PMI rose to 66.2 in November from 64.3 in October. New orders eased to 64.7 while employment strengthened to 57.4 and firms cited increased private and government projects and post-cyclone reconstruction supporting the near-term outlook.

Sri Lanka's PMI for Construction (Total Activity Index) rose to 66.2 in November 2025, indicating stronger construction activity. New orders, employment and purchases expanded, while suppliers' delivery times lengthened amid weather disruptions.

Business Promoters & Partners Engineering Ltd. issued a Right of Reply denying allegations of irregularities, saying its CMEC joint-venture Ambatale and Jaffna-Kilinochchi water projects were won via international competitive bidding, were not unsolicited, and have been completed and handed over.

Bank of Ceylon contributed Rs. 500 million to the government's “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund to support communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah. BOC also provided dry rations and essentials worth Rs. 50 million and facilitated overseas donations via its Internet Payment Gateway and foreign branches.

ASPI rose 42% in 2025, lifting market capitalization 41.67% to Rs. 8.07 trillion and generating Rs. 2.4 trillion in value. Final-day turnover exceeded Rs. 4.6 billion, three firms (CALH, JFP, WTS) listed during the year, and JKH, SFCL, ACL, SAMP and HASU were top contributors.

Macksons Tiles Lanka completed its first-ever export shipment of tiles to Australia, marking the company’s entry into that market. The products were manufactured using Sri Lankan raw materials and advanced Italian technology, signaling a push into value-added international manufacturing.

President Anura Dissanayake urged unity in rebuilding Sri Lanka, noting 2025 recorded the lowest budget deficit since 1977, the first-ever primary surplus and nearly USD 17 billion in export earnings.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 41.7% year-on-year in 2025, closing 0.79% higher at 22,624.31 on Dec 31. Capital goods, food & beverage and banking led turnover, with John Keells, Senkadagala Finance, ACL Cables, Sampath Bank and HNB Assurance among top contributors; net foreign outflow was Rs103 million.

Aggregate profits of 273 listed companies fell 12% YoY to Rs.176.5 billion in Sep-25, ending a seven-quarter growth streak. Banks (Rs.52bn, +39% YoY) and diversified financials (Rs.39bn, +112% YoY) underpinned a QoQ rebound, while food, beverage & tobacco and capital goods posted steep declines.

The Cabinet approved installation of four automatic passenger clearance gates at the departure terminal of Bandaranaike International Airport. The move is part of ongoing 2023 upgrades under an IOM–Japan cooperation funded by a ¥1,170m grant, and four gates have already been installed at arrivals.

Parliament passed 26 Acts in 2025, including amendments to major revenue laws (Inland Revenue Act, VAT, Social Security Contribution Levy, Betting and Gaming Levy), two Appropriation Acts, the National Minimum Wage Act, Companies and Electricity Act amendments, and changes to data protection and rubber control.

The Cabinet approved liquidation of the state-owned Sahasya Investment Company and transferred management of the country's expressway network to a dedicated operational unit within the Road Development Authority. Cabinet said Sahasya made no tangible progress since its 2020 establishment.

Sri Lanka’s 2025 combined IMF-backed stabilization and reform gains with a late-November setback from Cyclone Ditwah. Key items include a Central Bank rate cut (lending window to 8.25%), DFCC’s sale of a 50% Acuity stake to HNB for LKR 6.5bn, and John Keells launching the $1.2bn City of Dreams resort alongside major energy project deals and rooftop-solar grid issues.

Prime Group contributed LKR 200 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund to support recovery from Cyclone Ditwah. The group also donated three dialysis machines to Kegalle Hospital, will provide a radiation bunker to Apeksha Hospital, and supplied school kits to children of affected police officers.

John Keells Properties reports TRI-ZEN in Colombo 02 is achieving rents of >USD1,000 (1-bed), ~USD1,250 (2-bed) and ~USD1,400 (3-bed), implying rental yields of about 5.5–6% as demand and limited availability accelerate interest. The development's amenities and integrated smart-home technology are cited as key drivers.

Singer Sri Lanka PLC has opened 'Signature by Singer', a premium home-and-living showroom at the Singer Flagship Store, One Galle Face Mall, in partnership with Malaysia's Signature Group. The space showcases kitchens, wardrobes, bedroom and bathroom solutions to expand Singer's premium home-solutions offering.

The Colombo stock market gained Rs.84 billion as the ASPI rose 1.42% to 22,445.89. Top contributors included Colombo Dockyard, Melstacorp, Hatton National Bank, Richard Pieris and Commercial Bank, with capital goods, banking and materials driving turnover and hotel stocks seeing buying interest.

United Motors Lanka PLC donated Rs. 10 million to the 'Rebuilding Sri Lanka' Fund to support reconstruction and livelihoods recovery after Cyclone Ditwah.