Business
Sri Lanka Faces Medicine Shortage Risk as Rupee Falls 5.6%, Price Caps Hold
Rupee depreciation and frozen drug price caps are squeezing pharma importers; Health Minister Jayatissa says a ceiling-price revision is under review.
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Business
Cabinet awards Menzies Aviation AUD 8.32mn SriLankan Airlines ground handling deal at Sydney
Menzies Aviation Australia wins a three-year SriLankan Airlines ground handling contract at Sydney Airport worth AUD 8.32 million.
Business
Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka to raise Rs. 999mn via preference share rights issue
BoC subsidiary to offer 4 new preference shares for every 21 ordinary shares at Rs. 10 each to bolster Tier I capital, with a 5-year-yield-linked dividend.
Business
Cabinet approves Rs. 2bn upgrade of 25.6km of southern A2 highway
Cabinet awards Rs. 2.026 billion to rehabilitate two A2 southern corridor stretches: Kamburugamuwa-Dewinuwara and Talalla-Kudawella.
Business
Sri Lanka construction PMI slows to 57.1 in March from 70.3 in February
The Central Bank's construction PMI fell to 57.1 in March from 70.3 in February, with firms citing fuel shortages and Middle East-linked supply bottlenecks.
Business
Cabinet awards Rs.1.46bn vehicle tenders to United Motors, Toyota Lanka and DIMO
Cabinet has awarded Rs.1,458mn in tenders for 16 double cabs, 84 single cabs and 9 tractors to United Motors, Toyota Lanka and DIMO for wildlife duties.
Business
Wimal Liyanagama appointed Sri Lanka Customs Director General from May 6
Cabinet approves Wimal Liyanagama to succeed Seevali Arukgoda as Customs Director-General; he currently heads Treasury's Management Services department.
Business
April tourist arrivals fall 24.8% to 135,643 as West Asia conflict bites
Final SLTDA data show April tourist arrivals fell to 135,643, down 24.8% on a year earlier, with India, China and the UK the top source markets.
Business
Colombo electric railway for suburbs to begin construction in early 2027
Bimal Rathnayake says work on a Colombo-Ragama-Makumbura-Panadura electric railway will start next year, with three to four years to complete construction.
Business
Customs seize 13,700kg of turmeric hidden inside chilli imports from India
Sri Lanka Customs detects two attempts to smuggle 13,710kg of turmeric concealed in dried chilli shipments from India in raids on Kandy and Badulla traders.
Business
Four Fuel Hikes in Five Weeks: Sri Lanka Faces Cost-of-Living Squeeze as IMF Formula Bites
Four fuel hikes in five weeks under the IMF cost-reflective formula, with transport and housing now the largest drivers of April inflation in Sri Lanka.
Business
China Tells Sri Lanka SINOPEC Won't Build Hambantota Refinery Without 30% Local Market Share
China says SINOPEC will not proceed with the USD 3.7bn Hambantota refinery unless Sri Lanka raises the local sales share from 20% to 30%.
Business
Sri Lanka breaks ground on first Metro Bus depot in Kadawatha
Construction has begun on Sri Lanka's first Metro Bus depot in Kadawatha — a Rs. 102 million facility due July 30 ahead of an August fleet expansion.
Business
Sri Lanka pilots online bus seat booking at busticket.gov.lk
Bimal Rathnayake launched a pilot online seat reservation system at busticket.gov.lk for long-distance private bus travel, with SLTB to follow.
Business
Rising rubber prices set to lift Sri Lanka's listed plantation counters
First Capital says AGAL, KGAL, KOTA and HOPL are well placed to gain from rising rubber prices, with Watawala and Sunshine leading the ASPI's gainers.
Business
Rupee closes at Rs. 319.60/320.00, banking-led rally lifts ASPI on Monday
The rupee closed at Rs. 319.60/320.00 to the dollar Monday as the ASPI rose on banking-counter buying led by NDB and longer-tenor bond yields edged up.
Business
Three sectors split on fuel hike: buses absorb, three-wheelers demand fares, restaurants hold prices
Bus operators say they will absorb the Rs.10 diesel hike, three-wheeler drivers want fares revised, and restaurant owners say food prices will not change.
Business
Hambantota Port in talks with CMA CGM, Evergreen as Hormuz disruption diverts vessels
HIPG confirms commercial discussions with two of the world's top container lines as West Asia instability forces shipping to seek alternative routes.
Business
Apartment buyers should rank as equal creditors to banks under Insolvency Bill, COPF told
TW Holdings chair Thilan Wijesinghe testifies that current law shuts out depositors at stalled projects; Bill scheduled for May 5 Parliament debate.
Business
Overseas Realty posts Rs. 1.9 billion PBT in Q1 2026 on rental rate gains
Overseas Realty (Ceylon) PLC reports Q1 group revenue of Rs. 3.29 billion and PBT of Rs. 1.93 billion; Mireka Tower revenue jumps 114% on higher occupancy.
Business
VAT Amendment Bill proposes 11 changes including threshold cut and 20.5% financial-services rate
Threshold drops to Rs.36mn, financial services VAT rises from 18% to 20.5% on July 1, mandatory POS adoption — Bill needs Parliamentary approval.
Business
Finance Ministry gazettes VAT amendments, digital services net from July 1
VAT will apply to services on electronic platforms from July 1 under a Gazette issued by the Ministry of Financial Planning and Economic Development.
Business
Vehicle prices set to rise on rupee weakness and higher taxes — VIASL
VIASL president Prasad Manange says continued rupee depreciation and recent tax increases will push imported vehicle prices higher in the near future.
Business
CAA catches Bokundara trader selling Keeri Samba at Rs. 360/kg as raids spread to Piliyandala
CAA officers caught a trader at the Bokundara Economic Centre selling Keeri Samba at Rs. 360/kg, Rs. 100 above the gazetted Rs. 260 maximum retail price.