News & market updates

Hayleys PLC's subsidiary Hayleys Aventura commissioned Sri Lanka's first outdoor automated rotary parking system. The installation offers space-efficient automated parking for urban developments with platform retrieval within a maximum of 2.5 minutes.

AI is reshaping Sri Lanka's hospitality and tourism sectors, said speakers at 'EME Level Up: AI Hospitality Connect Sri Lanka 2026', highlighting an AI Visibility Report that identified 1,207 Sri Lankan hotel brands. TrustYou benchmarking showed Colombo's RPS at 87.45% and a score-to-revenue value of $222,000.

Surveyors' Institute of Sri Lanka will celebrate its centennial on 2 August 2026, marking 100 years of service to surveying, mapping and land administration. The institute will hold technical sessions and a gala, and is promoting digital land administration, geospatial innovation and stronger professional standards.

Ceylon Chamber forum identified solar expansion, predictable tariffs/procurement, streamlined approvals, improved financing, net metering, and energy storage as priorities to accelerate Sri Lanka's renewable energy transition. Participants flagged barriers including policy inconsistency, land and grid constraints, and payment delays.

IGT I Outsourcing Lanka moved into Port City Colombo and has grown to just over 500 staff serving international clients, highlighting Port City’s role in boosting Sri Lanka’s ICT exports (ICT/BPM exports $1.64bn in 2025). The article urges predictable tax treatment after a 2026 amendment changed employee tax in the zone and calls for digital process improvements to keep talent and investment.

The Ceylon Chamber urged policy certainty, faster approvals and stronger procurement and financing frameworks to accelerate Sri Lanka's renewable energy expansion, especially solar. It also recommended net metering, feed-in arrangements, storage standards and grid upgrades to meet rising demand from digitalisation, AI, EVs and data centres.

Asian stocks rose as hopes of Middle East mediation pulled Brent down to $88.88/bbl from a one-month high, while investors awaited major tech earnings and monitored rising U.S. Treasury yields and interest-rate expectations.

EY Global Delivery Services Sri Lanka hosted a Milestones event in Colombo attended by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and nearly 3,500 EY professionals, the largest EY event in Sri Lanka. The PM highlighted the National Digital Economy Strategy, AI-first operations and plans to grow ICT exports.

John Keells' auto arm (JKCG Auto) has expanded the BYD aftersales network in Sri Lanka, completing over 20,000 vehicle services and opening multiple new service centres and a large bodyshop. The push includes bigger parts inventory, technician training, digital diagnostics and 21+ fast chargers.

Sophos launched Sophos Fusion, an AI-native cybersecurity defense system that unifies endpoint, XDR, SIEM, MDR and other controls, with key capabilities becoming generally available between August and October 2026. Sophos says its SOC resolves 52% of cases entirely by AI with an average automated response time of 89 seconds.

Janashakthi Limited was featured as an official TikTok for Business Case Study for its 'Who is JXG?' integrated brand and IPO campaign ahead of a Rs. 5 billion IPO. The campaign recorded over 4.76 million video views, more than 5 million impressions and about 255,000 destination clicks to the IPO landing page.

LOLC Finance PLC opened two new branches in Mirigama (18 June 2026) and Galagedara (2 July 2026) to expand its islandwide footprint and offer its full range of financial and digital services.

Union Assurance launched 'Union Assurance Platinum Circle', automatically enabling eligible policyholders to access exclusive lifestyle experiences, milestone recognition, digital health services and partner benefits via its Clicklife app.

Salesforce South Asia President Arundhati Bhattacharya says digital transformation is central to rebuilding and growing Sri Lanka's financial services, citing the National Digital Economy Strategy's $15bn digital economy target and 95% digital literacy by 2030.

Yellow House Productions and Nanotek Computer Solutions announced a formal Technology Partnership, with Nanotek as Yellow House's Official Technology Partner supplying professional-grade hardware to power the studio's XR platform Archivist Into the Artverse and the Helixra web game.

Happy Chimps, a Sri Lankan-British AI company valued at LKR 2.5 billion, has been accepted into NVIDIA's Inception Program and will receive up to US$100,000 in cloud infrastructure support over the next 12–18 months. The support aims to cut AWS costs and accelerate development of its AI-powered SME operating system.

SLT‑MOBITEL opened newly modernized Maharagama and Battaramulla outlets with extended hours (09:00–21:00 weekdays, 09:00–17:00 Saturdays) and digital features—queue management, appointment booking, wireless service and digital payments—to improve customer experience.

A three-day National Workshop on Data Governance and Artificial Intelligence for Public Sector Transformation commenced in Colombo on 20, aiming to strengthen senior public officials' capacity in data governance, interoperable systems and responsible AI to accelerate digital transformation.

Kaspersky GReAT identified OkoBot, a sophisticated malware framework that has targeted hundreds of cryptocurrency users across 25+ countries, exfiltrating seed phrases via OkoSpyware and multiple stealers. It hooks Trezor and Ledger apps, deploys malicious loaders and fake installers, and remains active and evolving.

Ambeon Capital PLC will raise up to Rs.4.0 billion via a Rights Issue of up to 100 million shares at Rs.32 (up to Rs.3.2bn) and a contingent private placement of up to 25 million shares at Rs.32 (up to Rs.800m). Proceeds are intended to reduce gearing and fund new equity investments; both offers require CSE and shareholder approvals.

L B Finance PLC reported a 31% rise in PAT to Rs. 3.54 billion for Q1 ended 30 June 2026. Total income rose 47% to Rs. 18.76 billion, loans expanded to Rs. 341.96 billion, NPL ratio improved to 1.41% and capital ratios remained above regulatory minima.

Asian shares slipped as Gulf fighting pushed Brent crude above $90/bbl, stoking inflation fears and increasing the likelihood of earlier Fed rate hikes. Packed tech earnings and AI valuation worries add downside risk to equities while higher yields support fixed income.

AIA Insurance Lanka has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to become the exclusive Insurance Partner of SLASSCOM, aiming to support wellbeing initiatives for Sri Lanka's technology and knowledge community through events and corporate wellness programs.

Seylan Bank PLC was the Official Banking and Leasing Partner at the Colombo EV Motor Show 2026, engaging over 17,000 visitors and promoting Seylan Leasing's EV financing deals including competitive rates, processing fee discounts, fast-track approvals and the 'Speed Drive' interest-only start facility.

Janashakthi Limited (JXG) was featured as the first Sri Lankan financial conglomerate in an official TikTok for Business Case Study after its 'Who is JXG?' IPO campaign generated over 4.76 million video views and drove more than 255,000 clicks to the IPO landing page ahead of its LKR 5 billion IPO.

Sampath Bank PLC's digital commercial for its Wewata Jeewayak CSR initiative won Runner-Up at the Sumathi Awards 2026. The ad highlighted the resilience of farming communities and the bank's work restoring village irrigation tanks.

Sampath Bank's digital CSR commercial 'Wewata Jeewayak' was runner-up at the Sumathi Awards 2026. The ad spotlights the bank's initiative to restore and revitalise village irrigation tanks supporting farming communities.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce convened stakeholders to map priorities to accelerate Sri Lanka's renewable energy transition, prioritising solar expansion, net‑metering, procurement frameworks, financing and energy storage. Participants called for stable policy, streamlined approvals, grid upgrades and better access to finance to boost investment and delivery.

Hatton National Bank (HNB.N0000) was named Sri Lanka's Best Bank for Large Corporates at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, its second time winning the title. The bank cited involvement in a USD 1bn sustainability-linked syndication, LKR 44.5bn financing for a 350MW power project and investments in digital and transaction banking.

Sweden's ambassador reaffirmed plans to bring a Swedish trade delegation to Sri Lanka Expo 2027 (14–17 Jan 2027) to connect Swedish buyers with Sri Lankan exporters, highlighting opportunities in cinnamon, coconut products, gems & jewellery, apparel and ICT.