Business
Cabinet grants strategic business status to six Colombo Port City firms
The six designated companies are expected to bring $14.6m in FDI and 650 jobs across IT, logistics, consultancy and maritime technology over five years.
Business
1729 stories Business
Renewable energy SMEs warn of collapse as NSO unpaid dues hit Rs.10bn
Federation of Renewable Energy Developers says 389 plants face NPL wave after the National System Operator halted payments since December 2025.
Business
Sri Lanka missing out on $60bn Japan export market, business forum told
EDB Chairman says exports stuck near $2.7-2.9bn despite vast potential; Japanese envoy Isomata urges acceleration of SL-Japan-India industrial corridor.
Business
SLTB to import 200 luxury buses for expressway routes as private operators slam Metro Bus plan
Procurement starts for 170 expressway and 30 long-distance buses; private operators allege Rs.7bn wasted on parallel Metro Bus scheme.
Business
Sri Lanka Sells Extra Rs 8.4bn Treasury Bills on Tap, Week Total Rs 108bn
Public Debt Management Office sold three-, six- and 12-month bills at 8.20%, 8.24% and 8.52% on tap, on top of Rs 100bn raised at Wednesday's auction.
Business
MP questions $26.6mn SriLankan Airlines aircraft lease after RTI disclosure
Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara questions SriLankan's eight-year, $26.6mn lease for a 14-year-old Airbus A330, after RTI Commission ordered disclosure.
Business
Cabinet recognises Sri Lanka National Export Development Plan 2026–2030
Cabinet approves National Export Development Plan 2026–2030 as official strategy.
Business
Colombo Dockyard reports Rs. 428mn quarterly loss as India's MDL completes 51% takeover
Loss narrowed from Rs. 634mn a year earlier as revenue rose 7.6%; capital infusion of Rs. 12.93bn closes the Mazagon Dock acquisition.
Business
Colombo stocks rise, T-bill yields flat, but rupee slips Re. 1 against dollar
ASPI rose 0.69% to 22,739 with all Rs. 100bn T-bills sold at flat yields, but the rupee weakened to 321.00/30 to the dollar from 319.90/320.40 a day earlier.
Business
Tourism industry pushes back against government plan for blanket e-cigarette ban
Operators warn the prohibition could deter European and UK visitors, where vaping has overtaken traditional smoking; NATA has tabled the amendments.
Business
Gold prices in Sri Lanka jump Rs. 7,000 as international price hits USD 4,648/oz
A 22-carat sovereign now sells for Rs. 363,400 in Pettah; 24-carat reached Rs. 395,000 as Iran-war uncertainty pushes bullion to record highs.
Business
Sri Lanka issues RFI for green hydrogen and ammonia projects, targets USD 1bn export by 2030
Energy Ministry and BOI invite local and international developers to submit project concepts for green hydrogen and ammonia manufacturing, storage and export.
Business
Cabinet clears ADB advisory for 150 MW Kondachchi wind power and battery storage project
$1.2 mn ADB technical assistance grant funds the transaction advisory; the wind farm pairs with battery storage to deliver firm renewable power to the grid.
Business
LAUGFS Raises 12.5kg LPG Cylinder by Rs. 545 to Rs. 6,245 from Midnight
LAUGFS Gas hikes LPG prices from midnight May 7, citing global market pressures, opening a Rs. 1,480 gap with Litro on a 12.5kg cylinder.
Business
Litro keeps LP gas prices unchanged for May despite rising costs
Litro Gas Lanka will hold cylinder prices flat through May, citing consumer relief, even as international LPG and exchange-rate pressures persist.
Business
Sri Lanka raises special commodity levy on imported maize to Rs. 50 per kg
Finance Ministry gazette extraordinary sets the rate from May 5 through December 31, 2026 — a protectionist measure for local poultry feed producers.
Business
Sri Lanka invites investors for green hydrogen and ammonia projects
The Ministry of Energy and BoI have issued a Request for Information for green hydrogen and ammonia projects with submissions due by June 5.
Business
ADB backs India–Sri Lanka grid link as Pan-Asia power initiative gains pace
Senior ADB energy director Priyantha Wijayatunga calls the India grid link Sri Lanka's most promising power option, says ADB ready to support the project.
Business
Sri Lanka, South Korea formalise USD 267mn EDCF debt restructuring covering 18 loans
Amendment agreements were exchanged at the 2026 EDCF Policy Dialogue and complete the bilateral leg of Sri Lanka's external debt restructuring with Korea.
Business
SriLankan Airlines Rs. 91.3bn state-bank debt restructured; PPP and management contract on the table
Minister Karunathilaka tells Parliament the carrier's total liabilities stand at USD 993.78mn and Treasury will continue twice-yearly capital injections.
Business
Upcountry railway: 92 of 97 Cyclone Ditwah damage sites restored
Deputy Transport Minister Gunasena inspects progress as five sites between Rambukkana and Kadugannawa remain under NBRO engineering review.
Business
World Bank Pledges Support for Sri Lanka's Revenue Institution Reforms
World Bank Country Manager Gevorg Sargsyan met the President's Secretary to discuss reform of revenue-generating state bodies and integrity safeguards.
Business
Australia and FAO launch AUD 2 million cyclone recovery project for highland vegetable farmers
12-month initiative will reach 2,400 smallholders in Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, restoring climate-resilient vegetable production after Cyclone Ditwah.
Business
Melstacorp, Aitken Spence offer Rs. 30 a share to Browns Beach Hotels minorities
Joint exit offer to minority shareholders runs from May 5 to June 5 ahead of delisting from the CSE, after sustained losses since 2019.