News & market updates

The IMF is examining options to support Sri Lanka’s recovery after Cyclone Ditwah, pending a rapid post-disaster damage assessment that follows floods and landslides that left more than 800 dead or missing.

Sri Lanka's ASPI fell 5.4% over the week after Cyclone Ditwah, closing Friday at 21,497.08 as selling pressure hit the market. Banks and John Keells were top negative contributors, while some construction stocks (e.g., Swisstek) saw buying ahead of expected reconstruction projects.

Tokyo Cement Group was honoured with the SLIM Brand Excellence 2025 CSR Brand of the Year Merit Award for its environmental and community programmes. Cited initiatives include a 24MW renewable energy programme making local manufacturing 100% energy independent, nearly 100,000 mangrove saplings planted and over 1,000 reef balls deployed.

Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma said almost Rs.697.4 million has been collected for the government’s 'Rebuilding Sri Lanka' fund — Rs.635m via the Bank of Ceylon account and Rs.61m via Central Bank accounts — from over 30,000 donors across 33 countries.

Over 19,000 Sri Lankans working abroad have contributed to the 'Rebuilding Sri Lanka' Fund to support national recovery after Cyclone Ditwah. The Finance Ministry said it has implemented two mechanisms to facilitate overseas donations, including via Sri Lankan missions if banks are inaccessible.

CHEC Port City Colombo deployed 12 heavy-duty machines and a technical team within 24 hours to clear and repair the A5 Kandy–Nuwara Eliya corridor after Cyclone Ditwa; the company donated Rs.10 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund plus an additional Rs.3 million from staff/regional office and provided technical expertise for bridge and road repairs.

Sri Lanka Overseas Chinese Association donated Rs. 1 million for cyclone relief, with the cheque handed to Presidential Secretariat Director General Dharmasiri Gamge to support rebuilding efforts.

Trade and Investment Queensland and Study Queensland held a two-day engagement in Sri Lanka with five Queensland universities (Griffith, James Cook, Bond, Central Queensland, Southern Cross) to promote scholarships, study pathways and student support. Officials highlighted opportunities in health, technology, agriculture, hospitality and construction and projected approximately 100,000 jobs from proposed projects ahead of the 2032 Olympics.

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.

ADB will provide immediate grant support of up to $3 million to Sri Lanka (and $2 million each to Thailand and Viet Nam) from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund to support emergency flood relief, humanitarian efforts and rebuilding of affected communities and infrastructure.

ADB will provide immediate grant support of up to $3 million to Sri Lanka (and $2 million each to Thailand and Viet Nam) from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund to support emergency humanitarian relief and rebuilding after severe floods.

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.

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa demanded the Government withdraw the 2026 Budget, seek a new IMF deal and convene an international donor conference to address Cyclone Ditwah damage; SJB MP Harsha de Silva countered that about Rs.50 billion is immediately available and the IMF program allows fiscal flexibility.

Cyclone Ditwah left 829 dead or missing in Sri Lanka (479 confirmed dead, 350 missing) and displaced about 188,974 people. The storm damaged 44,556 houses (1,289 destroyed), inundated crops and tore up roads, rail tracks and the fibre-optic backbone, disrupting infrastructure and services.

CHEC Port City Colombo deployed 12 heavy-duty machines and a team to Sri Lanka's Central Province within 24 hours to assist road clearance, slope stabilisation and infrastructure recovery along the A5 after Cyclone Ditwah. The company also donated Rs.10 million to the national reconstruction fund and an additional Rs.3 million from its project team.

Transparency International Sri Lanka urged strong accountability and transparency in the use of public funds for Cyclone Ditwah relief after the Government allocated a Rs. 30 billion reserve for emergency aid. TISL welcomed a Rs. 50 million per-district spending increase and called for CSO representation, independent audits and full disclosure for the new reconstruction fund.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple will donate to relief and rebuilding efforts for communities hit by severe storms in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

CHEC Port City Colombo Ltd donated Rs. 10 million to the Government’s 'Rebuilding Sri Lanka' Fund and mobilised 12 disaster-response machines plus engineering teams to support Cyclone Ditwah recovery and infrastructure repairs.

ADB approved a $3 million disaster relief grant for Sri Lanka from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund after Cyclone Ditwah; Thailand and Vietnam received $2 million each.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 1.87% to 21,826.59 and the S&P SL20 dropped 1.75% to 6,030.66. Top decliners included Ceylinco Holdings, Melstacorp, Commercial Bank, Senkadagala Finance and Bukit Darah; construction names Access Engineering and Sierra Cables also slid, and Hemas appointed Ajith Fernando as chairman effective Jan 1.

Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma said the government is coordinating with banks and insurers and has activated nearly Rs.30 billion in emergency budget lines, authorising Rs.7.5 billion for housing to support households, SMEs and businesses hit by Cyclone Ditwah. Authorities have begun a World Bank-backed rapid damage assessment and approved a Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund to guide reconstruction.

DMC reports 1,558,919 people from 437,507 families affected across 25 districts and 465 confirmed deaths; 366 missing. Fully damaged houses total 783, 31,417 partially damaged, and 1,433 safety centres are sheltering 232,752 people.

First Capital Holdings CEO Dilshan Wirasekara estimated Cyclone Ditwah’s initial economic cost at $200m–$2.9bn (likely 1–3% of GDP) and urged issuance of a government-backed national Infrastructure Bond and other capital-market solutions to finance reconstruction.

Ministry of Industries has opened a data collection system and asked industrialists to submit information on Cyclone Ditwaa damage by 2 PM on December 16, 2025 via www.industry.gov.lk. Assistance is available through officers at Divisional and District Secretariat offices.

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.

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.

Colombo market recouped 30% of Monday’s Rs.240 billion wipe-off as the ASPI rose 1% (219 points), restoring about Rs.72 billion of market cap; top contributors included RICH, CINS, SAMP, BUKI and NDB while capital goods and materials led turnover.

The Management Club (TMC) announced the Northern Investment Summit for January 2026 to attract local and foreign investment to Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. The summit will spotlight agriculture, fisheries, IT, tourism, retail and energy and has endorsement/support from BOI, EDB, NEDA and other agencies.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple will donate unspecified funds to relief and rebuilding efforts in Sri Lanka and other Asian countries hit by recent storms that killed more than 1,300 people and affected millions.

Colombo Stock Exchange recovered as the ASPI rose 1% (219.51 pts) to 22,241.57, led by gains in diversified financials and construction-related shares, with notable rises in Ceylinco, Sampath, NDB, Bukit Darah, Sierra Cables and ACL Cables.