Central Bank introduces stringent rules on bank outsourcing

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has introduced a comprehensive set of new regulations governing how the licensed commercial and specialised banks manage the outsourcing of their business operations.

Tea prices ease in March, extending year-on-year decline

Sri Lanka’s national tea sale average fell in March, extending a broader softening in prices both month-on-month (MoM) and year-on-year (YoY), reflecting continued pressure on auction realisations across the elevations.

Board shake-up at Colombo Dockyard as MDL assumes majority control

Colombo Dockyard PLC has reconstituted its board following a shift in majority ownership, with India’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) formalising leadership changes after acquiring a 51 percent stake in the Sri Lankan shipbuilder.

Vehicle demand to dip by 15-20% amid depreciating rupee and fuel worries

Sri Lanka’s automotive sector is bracing for a market contraction, driven by the recent depreciation of the rupee and lingering consumer anxieties over the fuel situation.

ASPI records largest daily gain of the year

Indices closed in green as a result of price gains in counters such as John Keells Holdings, Commercial Bank and Hatton National Bank with the turnover crossing Rs. 6.6 Bn. High net worth and institutional investor participation was noted in National Development Bank, John Keells Holdings and Commercial Bank. Mixed interest was observed in Singer Sri Lanka, Lanka Milk Foods and Colombo Dockyard whilst retail interest was noted in ACME Printing &

EVO by DIMO accelerates electric mobility with Siemens EV charging technology

The Power and Energy arm of DIMO has launched EVO by DIMO, a dedicated solutions platform designed to support the rapid development of Sri Lanka’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

SLT-Mobitel dominates Teleco Category at TAGS Awards 2025

SLT-Mobitel once again secured the Gold Award in the Telecommunications Category at the TAGS Awards 2025 for its Annual Report 2024.

T-bill yields climb briefly at weekly auction while buying sentiment pushed yields down in secondary market

The secondary market witnessed some buying interest yesterday, following the announcement of the US–Iran peace talks and a temporary ceasefire, marking a downward movement in the yield curve.

Seylan Bank partners with WNPS for World Wetlands Day All-Island Programme 2026

Seylan Bank partnered with the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) to support the World Wetlands Day – WNPS All-Island Programme 2026 as the Title Sponsor, reinforcing its commitment to environmental sustainability and conservation.

Lanka Tiles unveils 59th showroom in Jaffna

Lanka Tiles recently opened its 59th showroom in Sri Lanka and its second showroom in the Northern Peninsula, marking a significant milestone in the company’s continued journey of bringing refined design and premium surfaces closer to communities across the island.

HNB celebrates triple wins at Effie Awards Sri Lanka 2026

HNB PLC has been honoured with three accolades at the Effie Awards Sri Lanka 2026, reaffirming its position as a leader in creative, effective, and impactful marketing campaigns.

Ogilvy sweeps three of four competition categories at Young Lions Sri Lanka

Ogilvy Group Sri Lanka delivered a commanding performance at the Young Lions Sri Lanka Competition 2026held in Colombo recently, with its talent securing wins in three of the four categories awarded. Sweeping top honours in the Media, PR and TV Categories, the agency’s winning teams will now prepare to represent Sri Lanka at the global Young Lions Competition inCannes, France, this June.

Ceylinco Life celebrates ‘Unstoppable Champions’ at Annual Awards 2026

The power of momentum was the focus when Ceylinco Life, Sri Lanka’s life insurance market leader for an 22 years, celebrated the exceptional achievements of its top-performing sales force at its Annual Awards Ceremony 2026, held at Cinnamon Life Colombo.

Dialog Finance Launches Next-Generation Virtual Debit Card, Elevating Digital Payments in Sri Lanka

Dialog Finance PLC, Sri Lanka’s leading fintech innovator, announced the launch of its Virtual Debit Card, the first in Sri Lanka to enable customers to generate multiple virtual cards for different purposes within a single app. This cutting-edge, digital-first payment solution is designed to deliver smarter control, enhanced security, and effortless everyday transactions, making online payments safer, more flexible, and fully manageable through

Sentido Heritance Negombo marks 10 years with ‘Decade One’

Sentido Heritance Negombo is marking its 10th anniversary with ‘Decade One’, a campaign that celebrates the first chapter of a hotel shaped by the coast, the community, and the distinct character of Negombo. More than a milestone, this campaign reflects on how the property has developed over the past decadeand looks ahead to what comes next.

Court of Appeal rejects motion filed by petitioner in Pentara Condominium Case

The Court of Appeal on 30th March 2026 rejected a motion filed by Petitioner Sirimalee Liyanagama in an ongoing writ application challenging the Pentara condominium project.

AAT Sri Lanka unveils Curriculum 2025-2030 to drive sustainable employment through technological competence

The Association of Accounting Technicians of Sri Lanka (AAT Sri Lanka) officially announced the launch of its Curriculum 2025–2030, themed “Sustainable Employment through Technological Competence,” effective from the July 2026 examinations, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to academic excellence and innovation.

Havelock City Mall brings ‘Nostalgic Avurudu’

Havelock City Mall (HCM) has launched its Sinhala and Tamil New Year seasonal programme, ‘Nostalgic Avurudu.’ Running from 21st March to 12th April, the campaign blends traditional cultural celebrations with mall-wide retail activations through a curated calendar of community engagement.

Uber Eats continues expansion with Nuwara Eliya entry

Uber Eats is now live in Nuwara Eliya, making it easier for locals and tourists to enjoy their favourite meals - from a hot plate of kottu on a chilly evening to a comforting rice and curry spread or crispy egg hoppers - delivered right to their doorstep.

Tourist arrivals cross 750,000 mark

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector successfully crossed the three-quarter million milestone during the first week of April, with cumulative arrivals for the year reaching 767,434 by 5 April.

Govt. to subsidise fuel, expand welfare as Middle East tensions lift costs

The government will subsidise fuel, expand cash handouts and extend targeted support to key sectors, as the government moves to cushion the economic fallout from rising energy prices triggered by the conflict in the Middle East.

Access Engineering recapitalises harbour village with Rs. 8.5bn ahead of Marina Square soft opening

Access Engineering PLC has announced a substantial Rs. 8.5 billion capital infusion into its wholly-owned subsidiary, Harbour Village (Pvt) Ltd, to recapitalise the landmark Marina Square Uptown Colombo project.

JXG opens IPO tomorrow to fuel next growth phase

JXG, the parent company of the Janashakthi Group, will open its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on 9th April 2026, marking a significant milestone in its journey.

Cabinet clears VAT, Finance Act amendments

As the government advances tax policy changes outlined in recent budgets, the Cabinet this week approved amendments to both the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act and the Finance Act, clearing the way for the proposed bills to be gazetted and presented to parliament.

Indices close in red

The ASPI closed in red as a result of price losses in counters such as National Development Bank, Ceylinco Holdings and Cargills with the turnover crossing Rs. 1.8 bn.

Selling pressure nudges yield curve slightly upward

The secondary market saw a degree of selling pressure yesterday, leading to a slight upward shift in the overall yield curve. However, market activity remained subdued, with extremely low trading volumes.

CA Sri Lanka launches Sustainability Reporting and ESG Leadership Faculty

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) has taken a landmark step in advancing the national sustainability drive with the launch of the Faculty of Sustainability Reporting & ESG Leadership.

Solo Sri Lankan among Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2025 winners

Solo Sri Lankan, a leading travel experience provider, has been recognised among the top 10 percent of listings worldwide in Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2025, a distinction based entirely on authentic reviews and ratings shared by travellers on Tripadvisor.

UK’s University of East Anglia and Colombo International Campus partner

Colombo International Campus (CIC) announced a strategic partnership with the University of East Anglia (UEA) UK, marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s higher education landscape.

Control Union Sri Lanka sets 2 global firsts in deforestation-free certification

Control Union Sri Lanka has achieved back-to-back global milestones in deforestation-free certification, having issued both the world’s first Deforestation-Free Standard (DFS) certificate and most recently, the world’s first DFS Group Certificate, the latter awarded to Samson Rubber Industries (Pvt.) Ltd.