News & market updates

Toyota Lanka held a groundbreaking ceremony for its flagship showroom in Bambalapitiya, which will feature contemporary architecture, interactive vehicle displays and test drives designed by Design Consortium.

Maga Engineering Ltd. was awarded a Rs.4.99 billion contract to construct the 2.32 km Warakapola bypass and a $7.26 million (Rs.2.4 billion) contract to expand the Bandaranaike International Airport departure terminal.

Toyota Lanka held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new flagship showroom in Bambalapitiya, designed by Design Consortium; the facility will feature interactive vehicle displays, immersive experiences and test drives.

Outgoing Swedish Ambassador Jan Thesleff said he is optimistic about Sri Lanka's recovery and rising investor confidence, noting about 80 Swedish companies operate in Sri Lanka. He highlighted opportunities in ICT, apparel exports, renewable energy, healthcare and tourism, and cited Port City progress and the need for direct flights.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors will host the Sri Lanka Corporate Director Summit 2026 on 22 July 2026 at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo, bringing international and local governance leaders to discuss moving Boards from compliance to sustainable growth with a focus on AI, cybersecurity and sustainability.

LOLC Holdings PLC's fully owned subsidiary LOLC Microfinance Bank Pakistan inaugurated a new head office in Islamabad as it expands operations, managing a loan portfolio exceeding $70m, deposits over $90m and a network of 88 branches.

Safesea Group founder Dr. S.V. Anchan and Universal Sportsbiz founder Anjana Reddy will speak at the Sri Lanka Corporate Director Summit 2026 on 22 July 2026 at Cinnamon Grand Colombo. They will discuss board governance, resilience, innovation and use of AI in corporate strategy.

Douglas and Sons Ltd. has appointed Manjula Sirimane and Yudhishtran (Yudy) Kanagasabai as Independent Non-Executive Directors effective 2 July 2026, with Kanagasabai named Chairman of the Board Audit Committee.

Corporate Management Consultants will hold a seminar on compliance with Beneficial Ownership provisions under the Companies Act No. 12 of 2025 for Company Secretaries. Speakers include LOLC General Insurance PLC Chairman Kithsiri Gunawardene, the Central Bank FIU DG and officials from the Registrar of Companies.

Rs.120 billion Treasury Bill auction scheduled today as secondary bond market activity picked up and yields compressed; money-market rates edged down and USD/LKR closed at 336.30/336.40.

The Cabinet approved establishment of a Centralised Zero-Waste Biomass Cinnamon Processing Centre at the University of Ruhuna to be carried out in four phases over 27 months. Jointly implemented by the Science & Technology Ministry, ITI and the university, it aims to support small-scale cultivators in Matara and Galle by lowering processing costs and utilising biomass waste.

SLIIT Business School study finds many Sri Lankan shoppers still prefer cash-on-delivery due to security, privacy and payment concerns, creating a digital trust gap that may hinder e-commerce growth. The study urges stronger payment security, data protection, authentication and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

The CSE and SEC held Colombo investor forums on 25 June and 9 July that drew over 180 participants (many first-time investors) with presentations from Central Bank economists and brokers; ASPI rose from 4,846 (May 2020) to 22,310.80 (May 2026), a 360% gain.

EDB and Expertise France began cooperating on the EU-funded 'Advancing Sustainable Trade between the EU and Sri Lanka' project following a 9 July 2026 meeting to boost sustainable, climate‑resilient access for Sri Lankan exporters to EU markets. The initiative will align trade regulations, support a green transition and enhance SME competitiveness for EU market entry.

Sri Lanka's rupee closed flat at 336.00/20 to the US dollar while government bond yields rose across maturities (e.g., the 15.09.2027 bond at 10.35–10.50%). Rs.120,000 million in Treasury bills will be auctioned on July 15.

Dividend · Rs 25.00 · XD Aug 7, 2026

First And Final dividend of LKR 25/share; XD 2026-08-07; record 2026-08-10; payable 2026-08-28; FY 2025/26

Sri Lanka's Colombo Stock Exchange closed down: ASPI fell 0.50% to 21,424.71 with market turnover of Rs.1.089 billion and banks leading turnover at Rs.221.1 million. Merchant Bank (MBSL) set a rights reference price of Rs.0.30 and its stock closed down 5.31% at Rs.10.70.

Dividend · Rs 0.20 · XD Aug 10, 2026

First And Final dividend of LKR 0.2/share; XD 2026-08-10; record 2026-08-11; payable 2026-08-31; FY 31st March 2026

The Cabinet approved a financing package to launch the "Grid-Based Rooftop Solar Power and Virtual Net Metering" project, authorizing a $35.0m ADB loan, a €15.4m EU grant and a $5.5m Japanese grant. The funding is intended to modernize the grid and support small- and medium-scale renewable energy producers.

Sri Lanka's cabinet approved establishing a centralized zero-waste biomass cinnamon processing centre at the University of Ruhuna, to be implemented over four phases spanning 27 months. The state-led project aims to modernize infrastructure, cut processing costs and commercialize cinnamon biomass to help regional smallholder producers.

Sri Lanka's cabinet approved a five-year national policy (2026–2030) to prevent money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing. The policy is based on the Central Bank FIU's third National Risk Assessment aligned with FATF standards and follows recent banking cyber incidents, including a US$2.5m treasury fraud.

Cabinet approved signing a tripartite agreement to implement a programme promoting energy‑efficient, climate‑resilient buildings backed by a €924,063 German grant (~Rs314m). GIZ will implement the project with progress monitored by the Ministry of Energy and the Sustainable Energy Authority.

Sri Lanka's cabinet approved about $57m in funding for the Rooftop Solar Aggregation and Virtual Net Metering Project: a $35m ADB loan, a €15.4m EU grant and a $5.5m JFJCM grant. The project aims to enhance small- and medium-scale renewable energy and rooftop solar distribution to independent power producers.

Rights issue · 4:21 at Rs 10.00 · XD Jul 7, 2026

The National System Operator launched an international tender for a 250 MW / 1,000 MWh standalone battery energy storage system across 25 substations, with BOO contracts and proposals due 10:00 hrs on 14 Aug 2026.

The National System Operator (Ministry of Energy) has launched an international tender for a 250 MW / 1000 MWh standalone battery energy storage system, structured as 10 MW/40 MWh units across 25 substations. The BOO project carries 15‑year storage agreements; proposals due Aug 14 (RFP until Aug 13).

BPPL Holdings' Beira Brush will acquire Ravi Industries' customer base and the 'Ravi' trademark under a business transfer agreement with a minimum five-year, performance-linked consideration of Rs. 300,000,000. Payments are annual and tied to revenue, and BPPL plans to integrate production to unlock synergies.

The Free Trade Zone Manufacturers' Association urged the government to operationalise power wheeling, lower industrial energy costs and set up dedicated fuel stations in Katunayake and Biyagama to protect export manufacturing competitiveness. The group also asked for a review of industrial diesel pricing.

The Sri Lanka Shippers' Council urged sweeping trade facilitation reforms to eliminate hidden logistics costs and accelerate digitalisation to boost exporters' competitiveness, speaking at its 60th anniversary and 56th AGM.