News & market updates

Hambantota International Port (HIP) recorded record June throughput of 90,219 vehicles and 80,325 TEUs, driven by operational preparedness and customer engagement amid shipping-route uncertainty in the Middle East.

TiE Colombo has partnered with Stanford Seed to offer the five-month Stanford Seed Spark program to Sri Lankan entrepreneurs to sharpen strategy and scale globally; applications are open until 25 July 2026 (places limited, reviewed rolling).

Parliament approved a new four-tier National Tariff Policy (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%) and two export orders covering 8,225 HS codes, replacing the prior 0/15/20% bands. The government also set a phased CESS removal through 2029 to lower intermediate and consumer import costs and support exports.

The Committee on Public Finance approved submitting to Parliament a Customs Ordinance resolution and two Export Development Act orders to implement a National Tariff Policy that restructures import duties into four bands (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%) from 1 April 2026 and reduces ceramic-tile taxes to 20% by 2029. The reforms aim to simplify tariffs, phase out para-tariffs by 2029 and support the EDB’s target to double exports from US$18bn to US$36bn over five years.

Yesol Lanka, a BOI-approved Puttalam venture, converts fish-processing waste into exported fishmeal, fish oil and paste, shipping 30,000–35,000 tonnes annually and earning $2–2.5m. The $3m plant can process up to 100 mt/day, employs 45 directly and pays collectors Rs.20–30/kg.

Hela Apparel Holdings (HELA.N0000) has appointed Emerald Investments Ltd to manage its Egypt manufacturing facility under a Management Service Agreement signed 7 June through 31 December 2026, with an option for Emerald to acquire the unit; the move aims to address working capital constraints and maintain production.

Heads of the IEA, IMF, World Bank and WTO said the war in the Middle East is straining energy, trade and food security and pledged coordinated support and readiness to act. They noted fuel and fertilizer prices have fallen since June but uncertainty and transit strains persist.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce's Commercial Documents Registration Division has launched a Free Sale Letter service to help Sri Lankan pharmaceutical manufacturers and exporters meet international compliance requirements. The service expands CDRD's trade documentation offerings, including Certificates of Origin and support via the e-DAS system.

The Ceylon Chamber's Commercial Documents Registration Division introduced a Free Sale Letter for pharmaceuticals to expand export documentation support for Sri Lankan pharmaceutical manufacturers and exporters. The division also issues Certificates of Origin and other certified export documents via a 24/7 e-service and e-DAS attestation.

BOI-approved Yesol Lanka in Puttalam converts fish-processing waste into export-ready fishmeal, fish oil and paste, exporting 30,000–35,000 mt annually and earning US$2–2.5m a year. The US$3m plant employs 45 people and has an installed capacity to process 100 mt of waste per day.

Sri Lanka's cabinet approved seeking parliamentary approval for new import/export regulations making export licenses mandatory for scrap metal and requiring prepayment-imported goods to arrive within 180, 365 or 730 days of payment. The regulations were published in the extraordinary gazette and will be submitted to parliament for approval.

Sri Lanka's official reserve assets fell 6.3% in June to USD 6,450m, a USD 431m drop from May, the Central Bank said. The decline was driven by a 6.1% fall in foreign-exchange reserves to USD 6,254m and an 11.7% drop in gold reserves to USD 191m.

IMF reviewed Sri Lanka's public revenue reforms with the RARMB, noting tax compliance has risen to 70–75% and agreeing to continue technical assistance for customs, excise and tax digitalisation. A draft Customs Ordinance Bill has been submitted and plans include paperless customs, tariff simplification and integrated data-sharing.

Parliament’s Committee on Public Finance warned online scam networks are an emerging financial‑crime risk and urged authorities to identify such threats early as Sri Lanka strengthens its anti‑money‑laundering framework. Officials said fraud (including scams) and trade‑based money laundering are rated medium‑high risks and the committee approved related AML legislation.

The Cabinet approved submitting Import and Export (Control) Regulations Nos. 05 and 06 of 2026 to Parliament, introducing mandatory export licences for discarded metal and scrap exports and new import prepayment timeframes of 180, 365 or 730 days for goods. The measures aim to protect domestic industries and strengthen trade oversight.

Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe backed calls for a multi-agency probe into alleged $1 billion phantom imports and said the Central Bank would participate. He cautioned timing differences and advance payments could account for about 40% of the questioned transactions and urged a comprehensive inquiry before conclusions.

NCGI issued its 2,000th collateral-free credit guarantee, enabling over Rs.14 billion in SME loans within 15 months and targeting 4,000 beneficiaries by year-end. The ADB- and Finance Ministry-backed scheme has allocated 20% to women-owned firms and 24% to priority sectors including agriculture, IT, tourism and exports.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake ordered tighter oversight of agricultural spending ahead of the 2027 Budget, directing officials to maximise use of 2026 allocations, expedite delayed foreign-funded projects and promote concessionary loans for young entrepreneurs. He also called for district-level consolidation of irrigation management, mapping of rehabilitation projects and proposals to expand export agriculture and value addition.

The National Chamber of Exporters opened applications for the 34th NCE Export Awards, closing Sept 30, 2026, with the awards ceremony on Dec 11 at Shangri‑La Colombo. Ex-Pack Corrugated Cartons PLC is the main sponsor and Dialog Enterprise is the event's digital technology partner.

Shea Wickramasingha was appointed Chairperson of CBL Group effective 6 July 2026 and will continue to serve as Group Managing Director. She succeeds the late Ramya Sanath Amaraweera Wickramasingha, maintaining the founding family's leadership of the food-manufacturing group.

Exhibitor registration for Sri Lanka Expo 2027 is open until 31 July 2026. The expo runs 14–17 Jan 2027 at BMICH with 650 booths across 25 sectors and offers opportunities to meet over 1,500 global buyers.

Helabhoomi Products' Business Manager Saliya Kulasekara met Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe at a business forum in Port City Colombo; Helabhoomi exports 100% organic Sri Lankan products to Western Europe.

A Ministerial Consultative Committee chaired by Minister Vijitha Herath reviewed progress of national tourism promotion projects and examined proposed 2027 budget allocations to develop the sector. A special committee was appointed to review foreign trade agreements and MPs proposed new tourism initiatives.

The IMF held talks with the Revenue Administration Reform and Modernisation Bureau (RARMB) and agreed to continue providing technical assistance for reforms to customs, the Inland Revenue Department and excise. RARMB restructuring and measures have lifted tax compliance from about 40–45% to 70–75% and include digital transformation, data integration and a drafted Customs amendment bill.

EDB says the proposed 12.5% US tariff on imports from Sri Lanka is not new and relates to an ongoing reciprocal tariff process, and officials are seeking to avoid the levy by concluding a trade agreement. Sri Lanka must file an appeal by 9 July and the proposed tariff would take effect on 24 July unless amended.

June national sales average (NSA) for Sri Lankan tea fell to Rs. 1,153.49 (US$3.45), down Rs. 31.07 and $0.20 from May. The cumulative NSA for Jan–Jun 2026 was Rs. 1,162.09, a marginal Rs. 3.55 rise YoY, with High Grown teas recording the sharpest monthly decline.

CBL Group has appointed Group Managing Director Sheamalee (Shea) Wickramasingha as Chairman effective 6 July 2026; she will continue to serve as Group Managing Director.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board has kept online exhibitor registration for Sri Lanka Expo 2027 open until 31 July 2026. The expo will run 14–17 January 2027 at BMICH with 650 booths and opportunities to meet over 1,500 global buyers across 25 sectors.

UK Trade Envoy Lord Hannett visited The Body Shop's One Galle Face Mall store in Colombo during a 17-19 June mission to strengthen trade ties and discuss export opportunities under the UK's DCTS; he toured the store and its Return, Recycle, Repeat recycling initiative.