Category: Economy and Markets
Sri Lanka earns LKR 904bn from vehicle import taxes in 2025
January 21 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has earned LKR 904 billion (approx. US$3bn) from vehicle import taxes in 2025. This figure is a massive upside surprise over the 441 billion rupees stated as expected by Deputy Economic Development Minister Nishantha Jayaweera. In 2026, analysts expect tax revenues from vehicle imports to drop significantly unless import […]
TikTok releases Q3 2025 community guidelines enforcement report
TikTok has released its Q3 2025 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report, showcasing its ongoing commitment to creating a safe digital space for its users. The report, which covers data from July to September 2025, details the proactive steps TikTok has taken to identify and remove content that violates its Community Guidelines, ensuring a positive experiencefor its […]
IMF Staff to Visit Sri Lanka to Assess Impact of Cyclone Ditwah
Statement by Mr. Evan Papageorgiou, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Chief for Sri Lanka: “An IMF staff team will visit Sri Lanka from January 22 to January 28, 2026, to hold discussions with the authorities on the size and scope of the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The findings of the mission will feed into […]
Alert To The General Public – Blue Ocean Securities (BOSL)
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) alerts the public not to engage with the entity operating as Blue Ocean Securities Ltd. or its mobile application BOMate for investing in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). This entity is not licensed by the SEC to function as a market intermediary. Individuals identified as Rohan […]
Good Intentions, Bad Economics: The Risks of Intervening in SME Lending Decisions
In the past weeks, newspaper headlines have brought to the forefront a growing narrative that banks are prospering while SMEs are struggling. This outcome has largely been attributed to banks overlooking the impact of external shocks on SMEs and to the current lending frameworks that govern credit markets. Such headlines call for independent statutory mechanisms to probe the fairness of cases leading to credit enforcement. Whilst such concerns are understandable on moral and ethical grounds, urging for artificial interventions in credit markets risks promoting […]
Wealthtrust Securities (WLTH) explodes higher in stock market debut
January 8, 2026 (LBO) – Wealthtrust Securities (WLTH), a leading primary dealer of government securities in Sri Lanka, has spiked 167% from its IPO price in its stock market debut. WLTH shares closed the day at LKR 18.70/share after coming public at an IPO price of just seven Sri Lankan Rupees. The IPO was heavily […]
Central Bank’s Gross Official Reserves Surpasses USD 6.8 Bn in Dec 2025, Highest Level Since Crisis
The Central Bank has announced that Gross Official Reserves (GOR) surged to over US dollars 6.8 billion by the end of 2025, marking the highest level of reserves recorded since the economic crisis. This was largely supported by US dollars 2.0 billion in net foreign exchange purchases made by the Central Bank (on value date […]
CSE Halts Market Trading to Ensure a Fair and Orderly Market
WealthTrust Securities Limited commenced trading on Diri Savi Board on 07th January 2026 and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) observed unusually high prices of certain transactions of WealthTrust Securities Limited due to market orders being matched with these unusually high sell orders. The CSE further observed that those clients who have sold the shares at […]
SEC and CSE Collaborate to Expedite Listings Through Advisor Awareness
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) in collaboration with the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) conducted an awareness session for Corporate Finance Advisors focusing on enhancing regulatory compliance and streamlining the listing process. The forum brought together Corporate Finance Advisors and senior officials from the SEC and CSE to enhance the listing process […]
SEC Eases Minimum Public Holding Rules for Listings via Introductions to Boost Market Flexibility
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) has approved amendments to the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) Listing Rules to provide greater flexibility regarding the Minimum Public Holding (MPH) requirement for companies listing through the Introduction method. These revisions were proposed and deliberated under Project 6 – New Listings (Public and Private), one of […]
CoPF Chairman Harsha de Silva urges President to appoint an Auditor General
Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chair of the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to immediately fill the Auditor General vacancy, which has been open since December 7. In a letter dated December 22, Dr. de Silva emphasized that the absence of an Auditor General disrupts constitutional mandates under Articles 148 […]
The Chamber of Northern Exporters (CNE) Delivering Goods and Services From Jaffna and the Northern Province
By Jekhan Aruliah We have heard it so many times, “We must export more!”. We have heard it from politicians and economists and assorted commentators of assorted quality through miscellaneous channels. “We must export more” deserves the internet acronym SOTBO. Internet slang for a “Statement Of The Bleeding Obvious”. A statement so basic, so self-evident, […]