News & market updates

Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC and Asiri Surgical Hospital PLC appointed Kalum de Silva as a Non-Executive, Independent Director. He has over 20 years' experience in private equity, M&A and growth advisory, bringing expertise in funding, governance and scaling businesses.

IIHS has launched three new Executive MBA programmes — EMBA in Health Administration, EMBA in Digital Health, and EMBA in Aged Care Management — with admissions open for a July intake; the hybrid programmes offer scholarships, flexible payment plans and doctoral pathways.

SLAB accredited 15 Conformity Assessment Bodies, strengthening Sri Lanka's national quality infrastructure to help exporters meet international standards and boost trade. SLAB also launched a Digital Accreditation Process Workflow Management System to streamline accreditation for exporters, manufacturers and SMEs.

Sri Lanka Insurance Life declared a Rs. 12.5 billion bonus to policyholders for 2024, the largest annual life-insurance bonus in Sri Lanka; the company reported Profit Before Tax of Rs. 30.7 billion, assets of Rs. 238.6 billion and gross written premiums of Rs. 26.3 billion (25% YoY).

A CII CEOs delegation led by Sanjiv Puri visited Colombo (29 Jun–2 Jul) to meet the President, Prime Minister and ministers and held a CEOs’ roundtable with Sri Lankan business leaders to explore investment-led collaboration across hospitality, manufacturing, energy, healthcare and tourism.

Royal Nursing Home was named Most Outstanding Private Ambulance Service of the Year at the Asia Miracle Awards 2025. The private nursing home — Sri Lanka’s largest network with over 1,600 nursing staff and the largest private ambulance fleet — also donated two ICU ambulances to the Ministry of Health in 2020.

Dialog Axiata's Doc990 (Digital Health Pvt Ltd) has partnered with Nawaloka Care Labs to allow patients to schedule doctor appointments via the Doc990 platform at Nawaloka Care Labs locations. The partnership aims to improve access and convenience for patients by enabling on-site channeling to a wide hospital network.

A CII delegation of Indian CEOs met Sri Lankan business leaders in Colombo on 30 June to discuss improving trade facilitation, aligning regulatory frameworks and encouraging investment and joint ventures across manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, renewable energy and tourism. Participants committed to continued engagement through chamber networks.

Shantha Bandara, CEO of Sunshine Healthcare Lanka Ltd., was appointed President of the Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) at its 64th AGM on 27 June. He outlined seven priorities including policy advocacy, improved drug testing and NMRA online services and launching an Annual Pharmaceutical Forum, while Central Bank Governor Dr. Weerasinghe commented on inflation, interest rates and exchange-rate flexibility.

The Ceylon Chamber and Indo-Lanka Chamber hosted a June 30 CEO roundtable with an Indian CII delegation led by Sanjiv Puri to discuss improving trade facilitation, aligning regulations and boosting investment and joint ventures across manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, renewable energy and tourism.

Baby Cheramy partnered with the Sri Lanka College of Pediatricians at the 27th Annual Scientific Congress 2025 to showcase its safety-tested baby care range and reaffirm its child-safety initiatives. The brand relaunched dermatologically tested diapers, introduced a new liquid soap, and highlighted its 8-step Safety Institute testing process.

Vision Care is sponsoring Sri Lanka's U-18 men's and women's hockey teams for the Asia Cup 2025 in Dazhou, China (July 1–13), supplying full playing kits for both squads and providing comprehensive eye checkups for players.

Johannes Zutt has been appointed World Bank Vice President for South Asia, effective 1 July, and will manage a $39 billion portfolio covering Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. He will be based in New Delhi as the new regional hub.

AHK Sri Lanka's Spring 2025 survey found 54% of German-affiliated firms in Sri Lanka rate their current situation as "good" and 66% expect business conditions to improve over the next 12 months; 33% plan to increase local investment and 31% plan to expand staff. Firms cited skilled labour shortages, weak domestic demand, unfavourable financing and US trade policy risks as main concerns.

Colombo market closed the week with the ASPI up 4.6% (closed 17,873, +132pts) and daily turnover Rs.5.12bn; CTHR, JKH, SAMP, HNB and CDB were among top contributors, capital goods and diversified financials led turnover while foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.441.5m.

World Bank approved a $50m additional financing package for Sri Lanka's General Education Modernisation Project to benefit an estimated 500,000 students and 150,000 teachers. The funds will support teacher training and digital learning, upgrade school facilities, and strengthen school health and nutrition, targeting underserved areas.

LMD-PEPPERCUBE Business Confidence Index rose to a record 210 in June, up 14 points from 196 in May. The surge is tied to expectations that new government policies will stabilise the economy and higher tax inflows, though health outbreaks, a 15% electricity tariff hike and potential oil-price shocks are cited as downside risks.

Sri Lanka Insurance Life was named LMD's 'Most Loved Life Insurance Brand' for the eighth consecutive year and reports the largest life fund in the industry at Rs. 213.2 billion. It disbursed over Rs. 1 billion on average in maturities/claims in 2024 and declared an Rs. 11.2 billion bonus for 2023.

The World Bank approved $50 million in additional financing for Sri Lanka's General Education Modernization Project, set to benefit about 500,000 students and 150,000 teachers. Funds will support teacher development, digital learning, school facility upgrades, and school health and nutrition with emphasis on underserved communities.

Vidyani Hettigoda, Director of the Hettigoda Group (Siddhalepa), received the Global CEO Top Businesswomen Award 2025 at a ceremony in Colombo on June 25, 2025. She will join the Global CEO Club, gaining access to international forums, training and networking to promote Sri Lanka's Ayurveda and wellbeing exports.

Queen Hospital Medical Centre opened Golden Heart Age Care in Ratmalana, a dedicated elderly care centre offering comprehensive packages from Rs. 90,000 per adult. The facility provides medical staff, personalised care plans, short-term/day options and OPD services for nearby suburbs.

AIA Insurance and PodHUB hosted award-winning powerlifter and St. James Capital CEO Rohan Paulus on the second episode of the 'Rethink Healthy' podcast, part of AIA's global campaign promoting physical, mental, social and financial wellness.

Brown & Company PLC reported FY25 consolidated revenue of Rs. 107.82 billion and PBT of Rs. 25.88 billion, with total assets of Rs. 752.69 billion. The Group completed major East Africa Lipton plantation acquisitions, took controlling stakes in Sierra Cables and Tea Smallholder Factories, and saw strong results across its plantations and hospitality units.

AIA Sri Lanka announced winners of its debut AIA Healthiest Schools Programme, with Bogoda Maha Vidyalaya (Primary) and Jaffna Hindu College (Secondary) taking the top prizes. Launched in October 2024 and endorsed by the Education Ministry, the programme promotes healthy eating, active lifestyles and mental well‑being and drew over 100 school applications.

LAUGFS Gas PLC launched the 'Dara Kadulu' public awareness campaign on World LPG Day 2025 to highlight health risks of indoor air pollution from firewood and promote LPG as a cleaner alternative. The company offered a 25% discount on new LAUGFS Gas cylinders and a loyalty-point donation option to its Project Life CSR program.

DFCC Bank held its Ride for Life Mini Bikeathon on 22 June 2025 with more than 200 participants as part of its 70th‑anniversary CSR drive to promote wellbeing and suicide prevention and to raise awareness of the 1333 crisis hotline. The event is part of a wider wellness programme planned through August and September.

Diamond International Lanka Ltd has launched a nationwide anti-counterfeit initiative with Holographic Label Bhd Malaysia to deploy smart labelling (holographic seals, dynamic QR codes, serialized holograms) and to run public awareness and enforcement collaborations.

Hemas Hospitals opened Hemas Health Plus, a purpose-built outpatient centre in Wattala offering integrated OPD services including a multi-disciplinary Liver Center (the first private-sector paediatric liver unit), wellness, paediatric, cosmetic and premium care facilities.

Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, his wife and daughter were remanded after failing to meet bail conditions in a CIABOC money‑laundering probe into alleged illegal assets totalling Rs.97.35 million. The inquiry includes seizures of property and vehicles and probes into suspected misuse of official residences, state vehicles and procurement of substandard medicines during his tenure.

Ceylon Chamber and Dhaka Chamber signed an MoU to foster bilateral trade and investment after a business dialogue in Colombo on 17 June 2025. The forum connected 24 Bangladeshi delegates with 90+ Sri Lankan firms and hosted 200+ B2B meetings across FMCG, IT, logistics, renewables and pharmaceuticals.