Business
Sri Lanka Expo 2026 postponed to January 2027 on geopolitical risks
Sri Lanka's flagship trade expo pushed to January 14-17, 2027 due to geopolitical uncertainties affecting global travel and trade, the EDB says.
Business
1071 stories Business
Sri Lanka envoy and Istanbul Chamber of Commerce target USD 500mn trade
Sri Lanka's ambassador to Türkiye met the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce president to push the USD 500 million bilateral trade target and plan a B2B session.
Business
New Pension Scheme Announced for Tea Estate and Factory Workers
Sri Lanka launches a new pension scheme for tea estate and factory workers — Rs. 600 quarterly contributions from age 18 yield Rs. 5,000 a month at age 60.
Business
Abu Dhabi Ports eyes Colombo, Trincomalee; UAE pushes CEPA in Samarasinghe talks
UAE Ambassador AlAmeri told Minister Samarasinghe that Abu Dhabi Ports is interested in Colombo, with CEPA, aviation and SriLankan Airlines also discussed.
Business
Govt plans 300 MW battery storage on grid by year-end as renewables surge
Deputy Power Minister Arkam Ilyas says 250-300 MW of BESS will hit the grid by year-end; 100 MW already awarded, 160 MW under evaluation.
Business
Cabinet approves SMIB Act amendment to lift state mortgage bank's profitability
Cabinet approved a proposal to amend the State Mortgage and Investment Bank Act, citing limitations in the 1975 law that have constrained the bank's profits.
Business
CBSL Deputy Governor warns reversing post-crisis reforms could recreate 2022 crisis conditions
Dr. Chandranath Amarasekara urges policymakers to weigh the counterfactual as tariff backlash and tax hikes test Sri Lanka's stabilisation gains.
Business
Cabinet approves Rs. 112 billion for Rambukkana–Galagedara Central Expressway phase without new borrowing
The Rambukkana–Galagedara section will be funded entirely by the Treasury without new loans, Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake said after Cabinet approval.
Business
Ceylon Chamber leads 19-member CEO delegation to Mumbai for Indo-Lanka Business Forum
JKH chairman Krishan Balendra heads a senior corporate group to the India-Sri Lanka Business Forum on May 13, co-hosted with CII in Mumbai.
Business
Govt withholds over $37 million from coal suppliers in quality dispute
Deputy Power Minister Arkam Ilyas says $22M in fines and $15M in performance bonds are being held over 18 disputed shipments — over Rs. 10 billion retained.
Business
Karunathilaka denies decision to privatise East Container Terminal
Ports Minister Anura Karunathilaka says no privatisation move has been taken at the Cabinet, SLPA or ministry, though investor talks continue.
Business
Power Minister Karunathilaka admits 18% tariff hike will have indirect impact across economy
Power Minister concedes higher industrial and commercial tariffs will pass through to consumer prices, softening earlier 'limited impact' framing.
Business
Sri Lanka calls international bids for liquor tamper seals as current contract expires January 2027
Cabinet approved an international competitive tender for a new five-year liquor security-marking contract, ahead of the existing provider's January 2027.
Business
Mattala Airport EOI deadline set for June 8, site visit on May 22
Ports Ministry sets June 8 deadline for Mattala airport EOIs, splitting the call into airside and landside operations with a May 22 site visit.
Business
NCGI scheme lets SMEs borrow without collateral, Deputy Minister explains
Government covers 70% of loan security under the NCGI scheme — 80% for women entrepreneurs — with 1,747 small businesses funded so far.
Business
Minority shareholder files derivative action against NDB and Ernst & Young in Commercial High Court
Minority shareholder sues NDB, external auditors Ernst & Young and E&Y partners in Commercial High Court; order reserved for May 13.
Business
Rayynor lifts Seylan Bank stake to 10% with fresh Rs. 1.2 billion investment
Media owner Rayynor Silva's Phantom Investments adds 12 million Seylan shares at Rs. 104 each, marking a fresh push into the lender after Phantom's NDB exit.
Business
Rupee slips to 322.25 Tuesday as Rs. 250bn bond auction proceeds; CSE closes flat
Sri Lanka's rupee weakened to 322.25 against the dollar; bond yields steady ahead of a Rs. 250bn auction; CSE ASPI closed flat at 23,015 on Tuesday.
Business
Government to give small-scale tea growers additional fertilizer subsidy as global import costs rise
Plantations Minister Samantha Vidyaratne said the Treasury has funded an extra fertilizer subsidy for small tea growers amid rising shipping costs.
Business
Bankruptcy bill's tax priority for state questioned at parliamentary committee
Advocata's Murtaza Jafferjee told COPF the IRD should not stand ahead of other creditors when a company restructures, saying private lenders take equal risk.
Business
US clears Sri Lanka blue swimming crab exports until 2029 under Marine Mammal Protection Act
NOAA reverses November 2025 ban after finding Sri Lanka's crab harvesting practices 'comparable in effectiveness' to American marine mammal standards.
Business
Sri Lanka to pay Rs. 8.5 billion CEB voluntary retirement compensation to 1,896 ex-employees
Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka says Treasury will fund 100% for some successor companies and 50% for NSO and Transmission Network staff.
Business
Colombo Port records 22% growth in container throughput in April
Port of Colombo handled 761,096 TEUs in April, up 22% YoY; Jan-April cumulative throughput hit 2.92 million TEUs, a 13.9% increase.
Business
CSE eases from record close as ASPI ends at 23,011 on May 11
ASPI fell 0.23% to 23,011.72 with banks leading turnover at Rs.3.04bn of the Rs.4.92bn total; Ceylinco Insurance and Commercial Bank weighed.