News & market updates

The Export Development Board held a networking session for new and potential tea and coconut exporters with about 100 small and medium exporters attending; industry speakers provided guidance on market entry, exporter registration/compliance, branding and building buyer relationships.

Asia Siyaka Warehousing, a fully owned subsidiary of Asia Siyaka Commodities PLC (ASIY.N0000), became the world’s first tea logistics company to receive ZeroCarbon® certification. Its Muthurajawela warehouse also holds LEED and ISO 22000 certifications and can store up to 11 million kg of tea (29,000 pallet positions).

Forbes & Walker Research reported the National Sales Average for tea fell to Rs. 1,164.54 ($3.76) in January 2026, down Rs. 37.04 month-on-month and Rs. 20.89 year-on-year. All elevations recorded negative variances in dollar terms, indicating continued pressure on realised prices.

Agoda has named Sri Lanka’s Nuwara Eliya among Asia’s must-visit hill stations. Agoda is also running a Mega Sale (14–28 Feb) with up to 60% off hotels and additional flash-sale and VIP deal windows.

The Government and Regional Plantation Companies agreed to raise plantation daily wages from Rs. 1,350 to Rs. 1,750 (a Rs. 400 increase) effective 1 January 2026, with Rs. 200 borne by RPCs and Rs. 200 by the Government to be credited directly to workers' bank accounts after January attendance is submitted.

Sri Lanka is pitching tax holidays of up to 15 years and positioning Colombo Port City as a regional financial and trade hub to attract UAE investors. The government says it will streamline approvals under the new Investment Promotion Act and is targeting agriculture, tourism, maritime logistics and renewable energy.

Sri Lanka will host its largest-ever 510 sqm country pavilion at Gulfood 2026, with 61 exporters participating to showcase food and beverage products, including Cargills, Elpitiya Plantations, Ceylon Cold Stores and Renuka Agri Foods.

Sri Lanka will host a 510 sq m Country Pavilion at Gulfood 2026 with 61 exporting companies participating, including Cargills, Ceylon Cold Stores, Renuka Agri Foods and Elpitiya Plantations; the pavilion aims to boost exports of tea, spices, coconut and processed foods to MEASA markets.

Sri Lanka showcased Ceylon tea, cinnamon, coconut products and handicrafts at the Sri Lankan National Pavilion at Grüne Woche 2026 in Berlin, receiving positive interest from German and EU buyers. AHK Sri Lanka said the fair provides SMEs a platform to explore and enter EU/German markets.

Mabroc Teas (part of Hayleys Group) launched TeaTrace, a QR-linked digital traceability platform providing batch-level supply-chain visibility to meet European ESG and sourcing requirements. Hayleys says the platform aligns with its digital transformation and sustainability priorities and will be expanded to other markets.

Share split · 1:10 · XD Mar 9, 2026

Sri Lanka's total export earnings reached US$17,252.15 Mn in 2025, up 5.6% year-on-year. Merchandise exports rose 6.32% to US$13,579.38 Mn and services exports increased 2.79% to US$3,672.77 Mn, with strong gains in apparel, coconut products, ICT/BPM and food & beverages.

Hayleys-owned Mabroc Teas has launched TeaTrace, a QR-linked digital traceability platform providing batch-level visibility from estate to retail to meet European ESG and sourcing demands. The platform, unveiled at Anuga 2025, is intended to support compliance, sustainability verification and market access.

Sri Lanka and China held a discussion under the MoU on Enhancing China–Sri Lanka Agricultural Productivity to jointly implement programmes using Chinese technology to boost agricultural productivity, reduce wildlife crop damage and assist in cleaning/restoring Beira Lake.

Sri Lanka's tea exports earned $1.51 billion in 2025 as volumes rose to 257.44 Mnkg, driven by value-added segments despite marginal weakness in average FOB prices. Value-added products reached an 11-year high of 59% of total exports, led by Packet Tea rising to 116.25 Mnkg.

President Anura Dissanayake called for a national policy and a new statutory Authority to coordinate protection and rebuilding of Sri Lanka's Central Highlands after Cyclone Ditwah. He met ADB, UNDP and officials to design an integrated framework, with calls for a dedicated financial fund.

Almas Holdings sold a 24.78% stake in Renuka Holdings for Rs. 243 million, disposing 5.16% (1.25m non-voting shares) to the Capital Alliance Quantitative Equity Fund and 19.62% (4.75m shares) on market at Rs. 40.50; Renuka non-voting shares closed at Rs. 43.50 (+Rs. 1.90).

Sunshine Holdings (SUN.N0000) will acquire a 75% stake (577,320 shares) in Joint Agri Products Ceylon for Rs. 2.698 billion. JAPC processes and exports spices, coconut products and teas (mainly to the EU and US), and Sunshine says the deal expands its consumer and export footprint.

Sunshine Holdings PLC will buy a 75% stake in Joint Agri Products Ceylon for Rs2.698 billion. JAPC exports spices, coconut products and teas mainly to the EU and USA and will keep its founder shareholders on the board.

The BRIGHT national survey of 6,850 households (Nov 2024–Mar 2025) found that just before Cyclone Ditwah 27% of households were multidimensionally poor, 33% experienced food insecurity and 42% reported household debt.

ASPI hit a new high at 23,731.60 after Friday's 0.10% rise (22.9 pts) while the S&P SL20 rose 0.28% to 6,560.08; market turnover was Rs.4.73bn with foreign net inflow of Rs.65.3m. Top positive contributors were COMB, DFCC, CTHR, NAMU and COOP, and banking made up 38% of turnover.

Brazil–Asia Chamber of Commerce has shown interest in participating in Sri Lanka Expo 2026 and began talks with Sri Lankan officials to boost trade and investment in tea, cinnamon and Port City projects; bilateral trade is about $150m. Follow-up meetings will involve the Tea Board, Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board, Colombo Port City Economic Commission and the EDB, which highlighted apparel, rubber, IT and machinery sectors.

FAO appealed for $16.5m to restore agrifood livelihoods in Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah, noting only $400,000 received (a 97.6% funding gap). The cyclone affected over 2.2 million people, inundated 129,000+ ha of agricultural land and caused major livestock and fisheries losses ahead of the Maha 2025/26 season.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 0.10% to close the ASPI at 23,731.60 on Friday, led by gains in Commercial Bank, DFCC Bank, C T Holdings, Namunukula Plantations and Co-operative Insurance. Market turnover fell to Rs4.7bn from Rs9.2bn, with banks and capital goods among key contributing sectors.

FAO launches a US$16.5mn appeal to support recovery of farming, livestock and fishing communities hit by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka, targeting 256,000 households (about 1.03 million people) across seven provinces to stabilize livelihoods and safeguard food production.

The Cabinet approved leasing stage-II underutilised state-owned plantation lands and properties to private investors to boost asset utilisation and productivity, citing assets including Mawarala Watte tea land/factory (40.48 ha) and 1,541 ha at Kondachchi Estate, under several state plantation bodies.

Ceylon tea prices fell over two weeks due to buying disruptions from Iran, though High Growns recovered some losses on the second day. Rupee depreciation supported LKR prices and there was demand from markets like Russia and Dubai.

Dividend · Rs 1.00 · XD Jan 23, 2026

Second Interim dividend of LKR 1/share; XD 2026-01-23; record 2026-01-25; payable 2026-02-12; FY 31st March 2026