News & market updates

The Maldives donated 14 containers (25,000 cases) of canned tuna to Sri Lanka for Cyclone Ditwah relief, formally handed over to Sri Lankan authorities.

AFC Asia Frontier Fund co-manager Ruchir Desai said Sri Lanka is now one of the fund’s top country picks, having raised allocation since November 2022, citing regained political and economic stability, undervalued equities (market ~11x earnings) and strong bank and consumer earnings.

Round Table Sri Lanka has distributed 10,000+ food parcels, 1,000+ ration packs and coordinated about 100 rescues since 28 Nov after Cyclone Ditwah, and is conducting dry-ration airlifts with partners including Expolanka and the airforce to reach flood-cut areas.

Gamer.LK has rescheduled Play Expo and Colombo Comic Expo to 10–11 January 2026 at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre; all tickets and event registrations (including esports and cosplay) remain valid and online esports entrants will receive updated match schedules. The event’s partners include Munchee Savory (Platinum) and Lenovo (Technology Partner).

IMF will provide swift access to about USD 350 million (the sixth EFF tranche) within two weeks to support Sri Lanka's cyclone relief. Development partners also pledged immediate humanitarian aid and to repurpose financing for medium-term infrastructure and recovery efforts.

IMF informed Sri Lanka it can access the next $350m EFF tranche within two weeks. Development partners pledged immediate humanitarian aid and to repurpose/provide concessional financing for medium- to long-term infrastructure, agriculture and tourism recovery after Cyclone Ditwah.

The UN is leading a Joint Rapid Needs Assessment with Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre after Cyclone Ditwah to map flood impacts and coordinate data collection; efforts prioritize food security and agriculture, livelihoods, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, shelter and early recovery.

About 563,950 hectares of Sri Lanka's Maha rice crop had been sown by 774,996 farmers when Cyclone Ditwah struck, leaving large areas submerged or waterlogged and causing substantial expected yield losses. Other field crops, vegetables, livestock and fisheries also suffered extensive damage.

Cargills (CARG.N0000) dispatched 10,000 dry-ration packs to flood-affected communities under its Heart for the Nation program. The company will soon open the initiative to customers to contribute, using its island-wide store network and logistics to distribute supplies.

Binance Charity pledged Rs. 61.6 million to the Sri Lanka Red Cross to support immediate relief and early recovery for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah. Funds will be used for food, clean water, hygiene and medical supplies, temporary shelter materials and cash grants for displaced families.

World Bank Country Manager Gevorg Sargsyan said Sri Lanka can achieve the government's 7% GDP growth target but only with decisive second-generation reforms to dismantle trade barriers, boost productivity and mobilise private capital. He called for tariff cuts, customs modernisation, logistics fixes, commercial SOE reforms and deeper financial intermediation to convert investor interest in energy, logistics and food into commitments.

Multiple countries and international agencies have mobilised extensive humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah, with India leading immediate response and major consignments arriving (e.g., US 20,000 polysacks, UAE 1,116 food packets, Australia AUD1m). The UN is coordinating rescue, relief and early recovery efforts.

Vegetable prices collapsed at the Dambulla fresh produce market after farmers flooded supplies following Cyclone Ditwah — green chillies fell to about 100 rupees/kg (from 200 that morning and 1,000 two days earlier) and carrots traded around 750 rupees/kg (vs 5,000 at peak). The drop followed roads reopening and excess supply, and the report warns past Consumer Affairs Authority price controls have previously disrupted farmers and markets.

The EDB, with IFC and the EU, concluded the second ExpoScaleUp pitching event under SLEEI 2025 to boost SME export readiness through training in market research, branding and logistics; selected SMEs will advance to ExpoConnect for market access and international buyer matchmaking.

Uber Sri Lanka commits LKR 65 million to the Sri Lanka Red Cross to support relief and recovery for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah. The package includes LKR 30m for dry-ration kits and care packages, LKR 17.5m in free rides for Red Cross teams and LKR 17.5m via Uber Eats for grocery procurement and deliveries, plus a CMC donation pick-up drive via the Uber app.

Cyclone Ditwah has affected about 275,000 children among 1.4 million people in Sri Lanka, causing floods, landslides, widespread displacement and damage to homes and infrastructure. UNICEF is coordinating with authorities, scaling up life‑saving support and appealing for funding for water, nutrition, psychosocial care and emergency education.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said Sri Lanka will relax certain food import and quarantine controls after Cyclone Ditwah flooded rice paddies and disrupted transport to keep supplies flowing and manage prices. Authorities also plan farmer compensation, fertilizer support and seed/poultry imports.

Melstacorp PLC appointed Sampath Jude Fernando as Group Chief Executive Officer effective December 1; he brings over 32 years' experience with senior roles at Hemas Pharmaceuticals, Janashakthi Insurance, Kotmale Holdings and Cargills.

The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council appealed for support after Cyclone Ditwah, which has killed over 300 people, left hundreds missing and thousands homeless across Sri Lanka. CWEIC said its strategic partners stand ready to assist international recovery efforts.

Customs has introduced a simplified, expedited duty-free clearance procedure for approved overseas humanitarian aid consignments to speed delivery to affected areas. Donors must consign to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), provide item lists/values, and some regulated goods will be inspected.

CBSL said headline CCPI inflation was steady at 2.1% year‑on‑year in November 2025, unchanged from October. Food inflation fell to 3.0% y‑o‑y, core inflation edged up to 2.4%, and month‑on‑month CCPI dropped 0.23%.

Cycle Pure Incense (Suwanda Industries) was recertified as a ZeroCarbon® Manufacturer for 2025, reaffirming its status as Sri Lanka’s only carbon-neutral incense-stick manufacturer. The certification followed an SFG audit that cited the company’s adoption of renewable energy and improved energy-efficiency practices.

Sampath Bank PLC launched a December SampathCards campaign offering exclusive discounts of up to 60% from 20 November to 31 December 2025 for Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cardholders across retail, dining, travel and lifestyle partner merchants.

A UAE flight carrying humanitarian assistance — including essential food items, safety kits and tents — arrived in Sri Lanka and the consignment was handed over to Sri Lankan officials.

Binance Charity pledged LKR ~61.6 million (USD 200,000) to the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society to support immediate relief and early-recovery efforts for communities hit by Cyclone Ditwah. Funds will be used for food, clean water, hygiene kits, medical supplies, temporary shelter materials and cash grants.

Sri Lanka's year-on-year inflation was 2.1% in October 2025, unchanged from September; the Colombo CPI rose 2.16% over 38 months since Sept 2022, and food prices fell 0.6% in October (3.31% deflation since Sept 2022).

John Keells Holdings delivered a broadly in-line Q2 FY26 with retail (BYD: 3,705 vehicles), consumer foods and financial services—led by Nations Trust Bank—driving growth; City of Dreams Sri Lanka became fully operational in Aug 2025 and was close to EBITDA breakeven.

The Disaster Management Centre reports 998,918 people across 25 districts have been affected by severe weather linked to Cyclone Ditwah, with 51,228 families (180,499 people) sheltered in 1,275 safety centres as flood and landslide impacts continue.

Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Ministry said there is no shortage of essential food commodities after Cyclone Ditwah, with imports and customs clearance continuing and direct deliveries to flood-affected districts. The Ministry urged the public to avoid panic buying and warned traders against hoarding and price gouging.

President Anura Dissanayake said Sri Lanka has Rs30 billion available for immediate disaster response and can seek further funds via supplementary estimates if needed. Cyclone Ditwah has downed power lines, blocked major roads and bridges, and flooded farmland including recently sown rice paddies.