News & market updates

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI fell 0.65% to 22,263.28, with utilities leading turnover at Rs.486 million. Top movers included Lighthouse Hotel (+4.64%), HNB (+0.19%), Sampath (+0.17%) and Pan Asia (+1.29%); Windforce (-5.12%) and Hayleys (-0.94%) were top decliners, and Asia Asset Finance declared a Rs.0.70 dividend on its convertible preference shares.

Emirates won Best Airline Worldwide at the 2026 Business Traveller Middle East Awards (its 13th consecutive win) and also took Best First Class and Best Airport Lounge.

University of Sri Jayewardenepura and Port City Colombo co-authored and published an international case study, 'Port City Colombo: Catalysing Sri Lanka's Emergence as a Global Investment Hub,' via Nova Publishers. The study examines the project's urban planning, economic, regulatory and sustainability dimensions and is intended as a multidisciplinary teaching and policy resource.

University of Sri Jayewardenepura and Port City Colombo co-authored and internationally published an academic case study examining Port City Colombo's urban planning, economic, regulatory and sustainability dimensions and its role in shaping Sri Lanka's long-term investment and development trajectory.

Amangalla in Galle Fort was ranked 64th on Travel And Tour World’s Top 100 Luxury Hotels for 2026. The property was recognised for its colonial heritage, personalised service, holistic wellness, fine dining and authentic cultural experiences.

Dr. Rohantha Athukorala was awarded the 'Rotarian of the Year 2025/26' by Rotary Sri Lanka and Maldives. He is a director of Lotus Hydro Power PLC (HPFL) and has held leadership roles with Sri Lanka Tourism, the Export Development Board and several multinational and tech firms.

The Thailand–Sri Lanka forum highlighted the newly enacted SLTFTA and reported bilateral trade rose 48% to $649m in 2025. Officials said the FTA and related measures should expand market access and investment across logistics, manufacturing, tourism, food processing, IT and healthcare.

Government adopts 'Ceylon Tea Village' program to restructure the smallholder tea sector and target $2.5bn in annual tea exports by 2030; the plan foresees 500 cluster villages, starting with 144 in 2026, and focuses on productivity, value addition and tea-linked tourism.

Sri Lanka received 95,747 tourists between 1–24 June, a 7.5% year-on-year decline, leaving year-to-date arrivals at about 1.11 million, 1.4% below the same period last year.

Sri Lanka has been ranked the world's fastest-growing wellness travel destination for 2026, recording a 100% increase in global demand according to BookRetreats.com's 'State of Retreats 2026' report. The survey also found 49% of US travellers plan to spend on wellness retreats in 2026.

Vietjet has opened bookings for its first direct Colombo–Ho Chi Minh City service, launching 18 August 2026 with three weekly round-trips and launch Eco fares from USD90 one-way. Deluxe and SkyBoss tickets get a 20% base-fare discount and flights operate Tue/Thu/Sat.

Melco Resorts & Entertainment brings City of Dreams Sri Lanka to Colombo, marking the company’s South Asia debut and adding a luxury integrated resort to its global portfolio.

The Thailand–Sri Lanka Business Forum centred on implementing the Sri Lanka–Thailand FTA to boost trade and investment after bilateral trade reached USD 649m in 2025 (+48% vs 2024). Delegates highlighted opportunities in logistics, manufacturing, food and agriculture, IT, healthcare and tourism and urged streamlined customs and predictable FTA implementation.

Chef Shantha Peiris of Nyne LUXE outlines the restaurant's sustainable gastronomy approach, focusing on local sourcing, waste minimisation, plant-forward dishes and in-house preparations to reduce environmental and social impact while maintaining luxury dining.

Marriott International and CG Hospitality Global signed an agreement to open three hotels — The Ritz-Carlton Kathmandu, The Westin Kathmandu and JW Marriott Siliguri — adding nearly 450 keys to Marriott's portfolio, with openings anticipated in 2031.

Milinda Moragoda hosted a luncheon on 23 June 2026 for U.S. Assistant Secretary of State S. Paul Kapur to discuss maritime security, regional connectivity, trade and cooperation with business leaders and diplomats.

Central Bank updated tourism earnings after the SLTDA revised its methodology: May 2026 earnings were USD 155.7m, bringing the Jan–May cumulative to USD 1,360m; January–April figures were revised upward to Jan USD 413.8m, Feb USD 381.4m, Mar USD 244.8m, Apr USD 164.3m.

A Cabinet-appointed committee reviewing Sri Lanka’s Free Trade Agreements is expected to submit recommendations in July, and an India Trade Desk has been launched to help Sri Lankan firms tap the Indian market. Bilateral trade reached about $5.8bn in 2025, with Sri Lankan exports to India over $1bn and imports $4.3bn.

Headline NCPI inflation rose to 5.4% YoY in May from 4.7% in April, the third consecutive monthly increase. Rises were driven by higher petrol and LP gas prices and increases in several food items (vegetables, fish, onions), while rice, eggs and sugar eased; core inflation edged to 4.5%.

Cabinet approved a 'Protecting Eastern Province Lands' committee and a police unit to tackle illegal land acquisitions, unauthorised coastal developments and land reclamation in the Eastern Province; it will reclaim unused Mahaweli lands and plan tourism with coastal safeguards.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower as the ASPI fell 0.22% (47.91 pts) to 22,208.58 with turnover Rs1.195bn. Galadari Hotels (GHLL) revised its Galadari Hotel Colombo refurbishment reopening to early Q4 2026; its shares were down 1.84% at Rs16.00.

The Thailand–Sri Lanka Business Forum highlighted opportunities from the new Sri Lanka–Thailand FTA, with bilateral trade at USD 649m in 2025 (up 48%) and commitments to boost supply chains, investment and trade across food processing, logistics, IT, healthcare, tourism and manufacturing.

Commercial Bank (COMB.N0000) rewarded two Visa credit cardholders with trips to the FIFA World Cup Final on 19 July 2026, each receiving two final tickets, return business-class flights and a four-night tour package. Winners were selected from card spending between 15 March and 10 May 2026 in a spend-drive for Platinum, Signature and Infinite cardholders.

Cabinet approved a three-year ground handling contract for SriLankan Airlines at Delhi IGI Airport awarded to Bird Flight Services (India) Pvt Ltd for INR 332.85m (LKR 1.1bn) from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2029. The award followed a limited international competitive bidding process with two bids received.

Sri Lanka used the 10th China–South Asia Expo in Kunming to boost market access, with Yunnan authorities agreeing to provide a 2,000 sq m free warehouse in Kunming for Sri Lankan exporters to store and distribute goods via Chinese e-commerce. The pavilion highlighted tea, spices, coconut products, processed foods, handicrafts and tourism services amid rising participation and trade growth with China.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed flat, with the ASPI up 0.01% at 22,256.49 and the S&P SL20 down 0.03% at 6,193.65. Top positives were LB Finance, National Development Bank, Aitken Spence and Nawaloka; declines came from Melstacorp, Central Finance, Sunshine and Windforce; turnover Rs 1.56bn.

ITC Ratnadipa, Colombo is hosting 'Changes & Traditions', an exhibition by artist S. H. Sarath, open to the public from 26 June to 12 July 2026 at the hotel's WelcomGallery (10:00–20:00).