Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka’s inflation hits 6.8-pct in June
Sri Lanka’s inflation problem isn’t going away anytime soon. June’s headline number came in at 6.8% year-on-year, up from 5.5% in May, and the drivers are exactly what most people already feel when they fill up their tank or do their weekly grocery run. Energy costs remain the main villain here. The Middle East conflict […]
Accelerating SOE reforms & maintaining cost-recovery energy pricing are key to minimizing fiscal risks: IMF Staff Mission
Accelerating reforms in state-owned enterprises and ensuring energy prices reflect cost-recovery are essential to reducing fiscal risks, according to the IMF Staff Mission at the conclusion of its visit to Sri Lanka. The mission emphasized that, alongside these measures, authorities should focus on strengthening the targeting and coverage of social safety nets to safeguard vulnerable […]
CSE Expands Footprint with New Gampaha Branch
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) officially opened its Gampaha Branch to the public this Tuesday (23rd June), further strengthening its countrywide presence. The inauguration of the branch was officiated by the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Senior Professor D.B.P.H Dissabandara, Director of the CSE Mr. Sujeewa Peiris, and CEO Mr. Rajeeva Bandaranaike, […]
CDS to Limit Activity on Dormant Accounts Until Reactivation as Part of Investor Protection Measures
Central Depository Systems (Pvt) Ltd (CDS), a subsidiary of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), has announced new measures aimed at protecting dormant CDS accounts that have remained inactive for three years or more. The measure will involve a staggered suspension framework for dormant accounts which can be re-activated at any time quite easily by account […]
Sri Lanka’s Exports exceeds USD 7.3 Bn in First Five Months
Sri Lanka’s export sector has sustained its resilience, with total exports exceeding US$ 7.3 billion in the first five months of 2026. Combined merchandise and services exports were estimated at US$ 7,393.39 million between January and May, marking a 7.56% year-on-year increase compared to the same period in 2025. Merchandise exports contributed US$ 5,758.44 million […]
Government to back apparel exporters with land reforms, ‘Plug and Play’ factories
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired a discussion at the Presidential Secretariat on Monda aimed at resolving challenges facing Sri Lanka’s apparel sector and boosting the country’s export earnings. The meeting brought together top business leaders and investors from the industry to discuss practical hurdles and the support needed to roll out the Export Development Board’s […]
Sri Lanka, US reaffirm strong ties as talks focus on trade gap and tariffs
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Dr. Paul Kapur, at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (22). The two sides reflected on 77 years of Sri Lanka-US relations, noting how the partnership has grown to cover trade, defence, investment, tourism and people-to-people connections. Kapur […]
Amana Takaful PLC concludes rights issue, Raises over Rs. 1Bn amid strong shareholder demand
Amana Takaful PLC has successfully closed its Rights Issue, raising more than Rs. 1 billion through the allotment of over 52.8 million new ordinary voting shares priced at Rs. 19 each. The offer, extended exclusively to existing shareholders, was oversubscribed by 68.8%, signaling solid investor confidence in the company’s direction. The response builds on a […]
Sri Lanka Tightens Oversight on Outward Remittances for Imports
In a move to strengthen the monitoring of foreign exchange leaving the country, the Government of Sri Lanka has introduced strict new regulations targeting outward remittances for import transactions. The mandate was enacted under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969, through a Gazette Extraordinary issued by the Minister of Finance, Planning, […]
Sri Lanka Launches National Export Development Plan 2026 – 2030; Six Cross Sector Enablers and Eight Priority Sectors Identified
Marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s economic development, the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2026–2030 was officially launched today, 16 June 2026. Hon. Sunil Handunneththi, Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, attended the event as the Chief Guest. In addition, several Ministers representing the Government, including Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and […]
UNDP and Central Bank of Sri Lanka Strengthen Partnership to Advance Financial Literacy
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) today formalized the 2nd phase of a continued partnership, reaffirming their joint commitment to advancing financial literacy under Sri Lanka’s National Financial Literacy Roadmap (2024–2028), a key pillar of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS). The partnership was symbolically […]
Sri Lanka GDP Growth Rate YoY increased to 5.1-pct
The GDP for the first quarter of 2026 at constant price (2015) has increased up to Rs. 3,652,503 million from Rs. 3,476,664 million which was reported in the first quarter of 2025. The GDP growth rate for the first quarter of year 2026 has been reported as 5.1 percent of positive growth rate. In the […]