Business
New crop insurance scheme covers pineapple, papaya and banana growers
The Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board is offering fruit farmers cover of Rs. 300,000 to Rs. 400,000 an acre for a premium of 7 per cent.
Business
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Business
PAYE burden needs fixing without delay, Presidential Secretary tells revenue chiefs
Nandika Kumanayake calls for urgent action on the PAYE burden — a sharper line than his August message that compliance must widen first.
Business
August tourist arrivals reach 191,704 but fall 3.3% on last year
Sri Lanka logged 191,704 tourist arrivals in August, down 3.29% year-on-year, leaving 2026 about 31,400 visitors behind last year's pace.
Business
Vehicle registrations slide to 53,221 in July as dealer stock masks true credit demand
July vehicle registrations dropped 8.5%; analyst warns dealer inventory masks weak buyer demand.
Business
Cabinet approves Brazil sugarcane agreement under a 2008 cooperation framework
A complementary adjustment agreement will let Brazil's cooperation agency and São Carlos Federal University work with Sri Lanka's Sugarcane Research Institute.
Business
Two years of ~5% growth, and the economy is still smaller than in 2018
Central Bank data shows real output remains below pre-crisis levels even after two years of ~5% growth.
Business
Ceylinco General launches a dengue and chikungunya policy at Rs. 2,000 a year
The insurer calls the cover a world first. Benefits run to Rs. 250,000 and include a daily payment for patients recovering at home rather than in hospital.
Business
'Ceylon King Coconut Village' programme to launch in Kurunegala with 250 villages planned
Plantation Ministry launches 250 king coconut villages, targeting 25mn extra nuts/year and US$12mn more exports by 2030.
Business
Construction PMI rises to 61.4 in July as bitumen shortages persist
Construction PMI reached 61.4 for third straight month. New orders and purchasing up, but bitumen and labour shortages persist.
Business
Colombo bourse gives up early rally to close marginally lower
The ASPI was near 21,400 by late morning before slipping into the red at the close, with the S&P SL20 falling back below 6,000 points.
Business
Current account in deficit for a fourth month as trade gap hits US$6.5bn
Sri Lanka's current account deficit hits US$142mn in July. Seven-month trade gap reaches US$6.5bn as fuel imports surge.
Business
Customs beats August target four days early, banks Rs. 1.83 trillion in eight months
Customs collected Rs. 1,832.7 billion in eight months, 83% of its annual target, and passed its August goal by the 27th — an eighth straight monthly beat.
Business
Hayleys Fentons completes Rs. 1bn automotive safety plant at Wathupitiwala
The contractor says it delivered Shield Restraint Systems' manufacturing facility in the Wathupitiwala EPZ in 14 months, on schedule.
Business
IMF reaches US$2.2bn staff-level deal with Senegal, which must restructure its debt
Senegal's debt hit 132% of GDP after billions in hidden borrowing came to light. Unlike Sri Lanka, it will use the G20 Common Framework.
Business
NSB core income grows in first half but profit before tax falls to Rs. 22.6bn
NSB's H1 2026 core income rises but profit before tax falls to Rs. 22.6bn as operating costs surge.
Business
Public debt reaches US$97.95bn at end-June as minister rejects Rs. 190bn increase claim
The PDMO puts total public debt at US$97.95bn. It fell 4.2pct in dollars and rose 2.3pct in rupees over the quarter — the gap is the exchange rate.
Business
SriLankan Airlines marks 47 years since its first flight as AirLanka
The national carrier began operations on 1 September 1979 with two Boeing 707 aircraft and now marks its 47th anniversary.
Business
World Bank to lend $200mn for tourism, starting with $77mn to keep visitors in Colombo
Only 5-10% of arrivals stay in Colombo for half a day. World Bank funds Fort heritage, wetlands loops and entrepreneurship.
Business
Rs. 5.8bn World Bank programme begins on 296 minor tanks, most damaged by Cyclone Ditwah
World Bank work started on 290 tanks in 18 districts under emergency response; 6 regular rehabilitations. Badulla has most (97).
Business
Bogambara Prison to be handed back for tourism development next year, deputy minister says
Deputy minister says Bogambara Prison in Kandy returns to tourism next year with a fresh RFP, despite no Hilton update.
Business
Colombo inflation hits 8% in August, breaching the Central Bank's target ceiling for a second month
Headline CCPI inflation rose from 7.3% in July on an 8.5% jump in food prices, a three-year high, while non-food inflation eased slightly to 7.7%.
Business
Engine-size tax shuts out the Prius while EV registrations stay elevated, JB Securities says
Taxing vehicles by engine size penalises 2.0-litre Japanese hybrids and favours EV-first models, JB Securities says. Hybrid registrations fell to 2,288 in July.
Business
Sri Lanka's exports pass US$10 billion in first seven months, but July goods earnings fall
EDB figures put January-July export earnings at US$10.49 billion, up 5.5%. July merchandise earnings slipped 1.3%, with tea to the Middle East down 47.9%.
Business
Expressways take record Rs. 355 million over five-day holiday
The RDA reports a record Rs. 355 million from a five-day holiday run and Rs. 408 million from 1,095,895 vehicles across the full week.