Business
Rs 15 billion approved to finish a Kolonnawa drainage project stalled since 2020
Cabinet approved Rs 15,077.82 million to complete the Kolonnawa stormwater drainage project over three years, including Rs 1,015 million in compensation.
Business
2063 stories Business
Cabinet clears PPP bill for gazette, with a new national agency at its centre
Sri Lanka's Cabinet approved gazetting a Public-Private Partnership bill creating a National Agency for PPP, before the draft goes to Parliament.
Business
Apparel industry warns the counter-terrorism bill could cost Sri Lanka GSP+
Apparel industry warns the counter-terrorism bill could jeopardize EU GSP+ status, which requires compliance with 27 rights conventions.
Business
Sampath Bank and David Pieris Automobiles launch vehicle financing tie-up
Customers get a 0.5% cut on published lease rates, interest-free insurance premium loans and a third labour-free service on GWM and BAIC vehicles.
Business
Sarvodaya extends sustainable bond deadline after green lending falls short
Social funds are fully disbursed, but only Rs 163mn of the Rs 500mn green tranche has been allocated. The new deadline is 17 April 2027.
Business
South Asia drafts a 2026–2030 circular economy roadmap at Colombo forum
South Asia's 2026-2030 circular economy roadmap covers plastics, textiles, agriculture, e-waste, construction and tourism.
Business
Three urea ships due this month for Maha — and the 180,000-tonne figure has changed meaning
Three urea ships arrive this month for Maha. Secretariat says 180,000 tonnes required; previously cited as stock in hand.
Business
Wheat flour goes up Rs 13 a kilo from midnight
Importers have raised the price of a kilogram of wheat flour by Rs 13 with effect from midnight on Tuesday, the second increase announced since August.
Business
ASPI gives back most of Friday's gain and closes below the level the sell-off started from
The index fell 125.63 points to 20,059.42, erasing 59% of Friday's rise. Turnover has more than halved in three sessions, to Rs. 680m.
Business
Opposition MP blames inferior coal for the islandwide blackout, citing CEB's own reports to Parliament
SLPP MP Chanaka alleges substandard coal caused Norochcholai blackout. Official cause under investigation; long-term damage expected.
Business
China Merchants, the Ports Authority and Access Engineering scrap the Colombo logistics hub
The South Asia Commercial and Logistics Hub is abandoned. The SLPA will pay $21.9m within 30 days, and shareholders recover $29.8m of the $37.1m they put in.
Business
Government revives the 1949 Co-operative Wholesale Establishment and names a new CEO
The Trade Ministry says appointments were handed to senior officers of the CWE, the state wholesaler that was wound up, reviving it to hold down food prices.
Business
Dialog gives up control of Doc990 as Sunshine Healthcare buys in
Dialog sold 20% of Digital Health for Rs. 374.9m. Sunshine Healthcare takes 21.92%, Nawaloka lifts its stake to 12.12%, and Durdans exits entirely.
Business
Sri Lanka's first insulin plant to produce in 2027 — six years after its foundation stone
Minister Nalinda Jayatissa says the Koggala plant will start output in 2027. Daily FT reported its foundation stone laid in September 2020.
Business
Securities regulators from 14 jurisdictions met in Colombo on cross-border enforcement
The SEC hosted IOSCO's enforcement committee at Hilton Colombo from 13-16 October. No investigations were named and no enforcement decisions announced.
Business
PUCSL clears one-hour evening power cuts for three days as Lakvijaya stays offline
The regulator has authorised one-hour evening cuts in four rotating groups on 19, 20 and 21 October, with Lakvijaya still unavailable after Friday's blackout.
Business
Debt office lifts bill offer to Rs. 100bn for a third weekly rise, a week after falling Rs. 23.9bn short
The rupee weakened to 331.55/65 and most yields rose. Wednesday's auction offers Rs. 100bn — a third straight increase after the last one fell 27% short.
Business
Premadasa says he has heard HSBC may move its Colombo service centre to the Philippines
The Opposition Leader put an unconfirmed report of 3,000 lost jobs on X. HSBC has said nothing, and no other verified newsroom has reported it.
Business
Ports Authority scraps $280mn China Merchants logistics venture, reopens it to bidding
SLPA scraps China Merchants JV, returns $29.8mn to shareholders. New logistics hub to seek private partner via competitive tender.
Business
Sri Lankan entrepreneurs court Vietnamese partners on six-day mission
Twenty-one COYLE members met Vietnam's chamber of commerce, contractors and software associations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from 8 to 13 October.
Business
Sri Lanka adds 29,071 active credit cards in July and August as growth resumes
Active credit cards reached 2,297,783 by end-August, up 6.1% this year. The June slowdown EconomyNext describes was not the low point — July was.
Business
Foreign investors buy Sri Lanka rupee bonds for a third week, recovering the September outflow
A net Rs. 364 million came in during the week to 16 October, taking three-week inflows to Rs. 5.5 billion and foreign holdings to Rs. 202.4 billion.
Business
Traders warn Peliyagoda fish market could be shut as cleaning contract fails
Sri Lanka's main wholesale fish market is clogged with rotting waste. Traders blame a third-party cleaning contractor; an official calls the smell bearable.
Business
CAA seizes 1,140 PVC pipes and fittings over missing SLS mark
CAA raids across 20 districts seize 1,140 PVC pipes sold without mandatory SLS certification; most premises lack purchase invoices.