Business
Inflation jumps to 5.4% in April after 35% fuel price hike
Colombo CCPI surged from 2.2% in March to 5.4% in April, hitting the Central Bank's upper target as transport and energy costs spiked.
Business
1074 stories Business
Cabinet Approves Tabling of Central Bank Data Collection Rules in Parliament
Cabinet has approved submitting new CBSL rules formalising the bank's statistics powers and penalties for non-compliance, gazetted under the 2023 CBSL Act.
Business
CICT sets single-vessel record at 15,113 TEUs with MSC INGY call
Colombo International Container Terminals handled 10,407 moves on the MSC INGY, equivalent to 15,113 TEUs, beating its single-vessel handling record.
Business
CSE Closes Up as JXG Leads Turnover on Debut, Rupee Slips
ASPI rose 0.07% to 22,635 on Wednesday with Janashakthi Limited (JXG) up 37% on listing, while the rupee weakened to 319.75/320.60 against the dollar.
Business
Ceylon Tobacco Company Names Sarmad Abbasi MD and CEO Effective May 1
BAT veteran Sarmad Abbasi takes over from Fariyha Subhani as Managing Director and CEO of Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC from 1 May 2026.
Business
Sri Lanka Customs Beats April Revenue Target for Fourth Month Running
Sri Lanka Customs collected Rs. 186.5 billion in the first 27 days of April, exceeding its monthly target of Rs. 181.3 billion.
Business
Customs RTF Seizes 6.5 Tonnes of Turmeric Hidden in Gypsum Imports from India
Sri Lanka Customs detected 2,580kg of turmeric powder and 3,950kg of dried turmeric fingers concealed inside a gypsum plaster shipment from India.
Business
Emerald Acquires Hela Factories and Buys UK Focus Brands Unit for $8 Million
Emerald Investments acquired Hela's Thihariya and Palapathwala factories and UK subsidiary Focus Brands for $8 million, completing Hela's exit.
Business
FAO launches $300,000 e-voucher scheme for Cyclone Ditwah-hit paddy farmers
FAO will give 3,489 paddy farmers in Anuradhapura digital fertilizer e-vouchers worth $300,000 to recover production hit by Cyclone Ditwah ahead of Yala.
Business
LB Finance secures $15m senior debt facility from Switzerland-based Enabling Qapital
LB Finance raised $15 million in senior debt from Swiss impact manager Enabling Qapital via the EMF Microfinance Fund for MSME lending.
Business
Train Canteen Vendor Fined Rs. 100,000 for Selling Water Above MRP
A canteen vendor on the Colombo–Batticaloa 'Meenagaya' train was fined Rs. 100,000 for selling 1,000ml water bottles at Rs. 160 instead of the Rs. 100 MRP.
Business
NDB Independent Director Shanil Fernando Resigns from Board
Virtusa co-founder Shanil Fernando has resigned as NDB Independent Non-Executive Director effective April 27, four months after joining the board.
Business
Prima raises wheat flour by Rs. 5 to Rs. 225 per kg, citing fuel costs
Prima Ceylon raised wheat flour by Rs. 5 to Rs. 225 per kg from April 29 over higher transport costs; bakery owners say bread prices will hold.
Business
PUCSL Opens Public Consultation on Tariff Revision; 95% of Households Exempt, Final Decision May 9
PUCSL has invited written and oral submissions until May 6 on the NSO's revised Q2–Q3 cost estimate, with final tariffs to be announced May 9.
Business
Singer Sri Lanka Buys ACME Printing Factory in Piliyandala for Rs. 630 Million
Singer (Sri Lanka) signed a sale and purchase agreement to acquire ACME Printing and Packaging's Piliyandala factory for Rs. 630 million, the company said.
Business
ADB Team in Colombo to Review National Export Development Plan 2026–2030
An ADB delegation met EDB officials on Cabinet approval, Phase 2 technical assistance and a steering committee for the 2026–2030 export plan.
Business
CRIB Introduces Six-Month Credit Relief Window for Cyclone Ditwah Victims
Delayed payments by individuals and businesses hit by Cyclone Ditwah will not be reported as overdue, the Credit Information Bureau says; six-month window.
Business
JXG Shares to Begin Trading on CSE Tomorrow After Triple Oversubscription
Janashakthi Ltd. (JXG) will list on the Colombo Stock Exchange on April 29 after its Rs. 5 billion IPO drew bids worth Rs. 15.16 billion.
Business
Cabinet Calls for Investors to Develop Colombo 10 UDA Land as IT Hub on 50-Year Lease
Cabinet has approved a call for investment proposals to develop a 1.5-acre UDA land at Maradana Road as an IT and innovation hub on a 50-year lease.
Business
NSO Issues ADB-Backed Tender to Modernise National Grid for Renewable Integration
National System Operator opens international bids for SCADA and renewable energy management upgrade under ADB-funded PSSREIP, with May 14 deadline.
Business
NSO Files Revised Electricity Cost Estimate to PUCSL After Fuel Price Hike
National System Operator files a revised Q2 cost forecast to the regulator citing the recent CPC fuel price hike, paving the way for a fresh tariff revision.
Business
Sampath Bank's Rs. 10 Billion Green Bond Issue Earns 'A(EXP)(lka)' Fitch Rating
Fitch assigned Sampath Bank's proposed Rs. 10 billion Basel III subordinated green bond an expected A(EXP)(lka) rating, two notches below its AA-(lka) anchor.
Business
April Tourist Arrivals Reach 117,893 as YTD Total Climbs to 858,527
SLTDA's latest April figures show India 30% of arrivals; pace lags April 2025's 174,608 with two days remaining in the month.
Business
President AKD Meets IRD Officials to Broaden Tax Net and Recover Arrears
Discussions covered IRD restructuring, digitalisation, the national e-invoicing system, and recovery of outstanding tax arrears under the IMF programme.