Islamic finance must avoid becoming a debt-only industry: Mufti Jakhura

Sri Lanka’s Islamic finance industry risks undermining its own long-term purpose if the debt-based financing structures come to dominate the sector, at the expense of equity-based alternatives, a leading Sharia scholar warned.

Sri Lanka gets first Tawarruq personal finance solution

Sri Lanka yesterday gained its first structured Tawarruq-based personal finance solution, plugging a long-standing gap in the country’s Islamic finance sector and opening a new source of Shariah-compliant funding for individuals and micro-enterprises.

Commercial Bank opens Rs.20bn debenture issue on July 16

Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC is set to raise up to Rs.20 billion through a Basel III-compliant subordinated debenture issue, after receiving the approval in principle from the Colombo Stock Exchange for the listing of the securities.

Alpha Fire Services to acquire HVAC firm in Rs.260mn share-swap deal

Alpha Fire Services PLC shared plans to acquire Icon Engineering Enterprises (Pvt.) Ltd, a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) solutions provider operating in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, in a Rs.260 million transaction that would be settled through a share swap, as the listed company moves to expand its engineering services portfolio and strengthen its presence in integrated building solutions.

CCC’s Scale Up 2.0 to help SMEs overcome growth barriers

Sri Lanka’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will gain direct access to buyers, financiers and policymakers through a national business forum launched by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), as businesses continue to grapple with funding constraints and difficulties in accessing new markets.

AI sovereignty key to digital economy ambitions: Dr. Hans

Sri Lanka called on the smaller and lower-income nations to secure access to ‘Sovereign AI’ capabilities as the country moves ahead with an artificial intelligence (AI)-first digital transformation agenda designed to expand access to public services, knowledge and economic opportunities.

Limited trading amidst T-bond auction

Amidst the T-bond auction held yesterday, the secondary market saw a lacklustre trading session with limited activity, while the yield curve remained broadly unchanged.

EDB, IFC and EU strengthen export readiness of Eastern Province SMEs

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Union (EU), successfully conducted the 7th Provincial ExpoNavigator Programme under the Sri Lanka Export Excellence Initiative (SLEEI) on 9–10 June 2026 in Batticaloa.

Indices close in red

The ASPI closed in red as a result of price losses in counters such as C T Holdings, Commercial Bank and Sampath Bank with the turnover crossing Rs. 1.0 Bn. A similar behaviour was witnessed in the S&P SL20. High net worth and institutional investor participation was noted in Melstacorp, Hatton National Bank nonvoting and JAT Holdings. Mixed interest was observed in Sampath Bank, Commercial Bank and ACL Cables whilst retail interest was noted in

OPA’s 39th Annual Conference to map out structural path beyond recovery

The Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) has announced its flagship 39th Annual Conference, scheduled to take place on August 11 and 12, at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo.

SEC & CSE Colombo Investor Forums receive positive investor interest

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) hosted the first of a new series of country-wide investor forums on the CSE trading floor on 25th June and 9th July in Sinhala and English languages respectively.

Market Research Society of Sri Lanka elects new committee

The Market Research Society of Sri Lanka (MRSSL) elected its Executive Committee for the 2026 term at its 13th Annual General Meeting, with Suthaharan Perampalam being re-elected as President for a second consecutive term.

Yamaha opens flagship concept showroom in Borella

Associated Motorways (Private) Limited (AMW), the official distributor for Yamaha, has opened Yamaha’s flagship Concept Showroom in Sri Lanka at Borella, marking the brand’s 45-year presence in the country while introducing a redesigned retail destination that brings together the brand’s motorcycles, scooters, Outboard Motors (OBM), water vehicles, genuine spare parts, accessories and official Yamaha merchandise under one roof.

Ceylon Chamber hosts FIEO delegation for B2B session with Lankan businesses

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce hosted a Business-to-Business (B2B) and networking session for a 31-member business delegation from the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), India’s apex export promotion organisation, during its visit to Sri Lanka from 8–10 July.

FTZMA seeks review of industrial diesel pricing; warns of competitiveness impact

Sri Lanka’s export manufacturers have urged the government to review the pricing of industrial diesel, arguing that the factories are paying more for a lower-grade fuel than the motorists pay for standard diesel, increasing the production costs and undermining competitiveness.

Mapping the cycles of Sri Lanka’s post-crisis recovery: Lessons from Greece and Jamaica

Charith: Sri Lanka is not the first country to face a debt crisis. Several economies have gone through similar hardships, and their recovery paths offer useful lessons on what supports stability, what delays it, and what can go wrong after the initial adjustment phase.We chose Greece because it shares a number of similarities with Sri Lanka. Greece’s crisis emerged in 2009–2010, after years of structural weaknesses had accumulated, fiscal imbalan

EFC appoints Yashoravi Bakmiwewa as Director General

The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), Sri Lanka’s premier employers’ organisation, has appointed Yashoravi Bakmiwewa as its 14th Director General, marking a historic milestone in the federation’s 97-year history.

Bogawantalawa Tea enters Saudi Arabia’s Tamimi hypermarket chain

Sri Lanka’s premium Bogawantalawa Tea was officially launched at Tamimi Markets, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading hypermarket chains, at a ceremony held in Riyadh on 9 July, marking a further expansion of premium Ceylon Tea in the Kingdom.

AAT Sri Lanka hosts Recognition Ceremony to honour affiliated training partners

The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Sri Lanka recently conducted a Recognition Ceremony to honour its Affiliated Training Partners.

Divine Marketing celebrates 7 years launching new products

Divine Marketing (Pvt) Ltd, one of Sri Lanka’s trusted names in the tissue products industry, celebrated its seventh anniversary recently, introducing two innovative new products. The company has grown into a leading supplier serving households as well as offices, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and other commercial establishments across the country. Over the past seven years, the company has earned a strong reputation for delivering reliable, pr

Keells joins Dialog Pay merchant ecosystem

Dialog Axiata PLC announced that customers can now make secure and convenient digital payments using Dialog Pay at all Keells supermarkets nationwide.

JKCG Auto and Green EV join forces to build SL’s most expansive EV charging network

John Keells CG Auto (JKCG Auto), the authorised distributor of BYD and Denza in Sri Lanka, launched a strategic partnership with Green EV on 26 June, to significantly expand the charging infrastructure available to its customers across the island.

Pan Asia Bank launches its first Mastercard Debit Card with value-added benefits

Pan Asia Bank announced the launch of its new Mastercard Debit Card, marking another significant milestone in the Bank’s commitment to delivering innovative, customer-centric banking solutions. Designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s digitally connected consumers, the new debit card offers secure, convenient, and globally accepted payment capabilities, enabling customers to make everyday transactions with confidence, whether at home or abr

Amana Bank marks National Teenagers Day introducing ‘Teen Savings’

Amana Bank announced the launch of ‘Amana Bank Teen Savings’ coinciding with National Teenagers Day.

CSE opens the week lower as retail selling and geopolitical concerns weigh on market sentiment

The Colombo Stock Exchange commenced the week on a weak note, with both benchmark indices closing sharply lower as investor sentiment remained subdued amid persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and cautious positioning ahead of the upcoming quarterly earnings season. Retail-driven selling pressure dominated the session,

Sri Lanka has survived its crisis. Or has it?

Sri Lanka’s economic comeback has won praise from the creditors, multilaterals and investors. Yet, beneath the headline numbers is hidden a more uncomfortable question: Can the island nation create enough jobs, attract enough investment and remain competitive in an increasingly uncertain world?

Delay, drift and decline

Sri Lanka has moved past its 2022 economic crisis, but its recovery remains “far from over,” the World Bank’s Country Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives said, warning that the country must now convert stability into competitiveness and jobs.

Indian tourists outspend some European visitors as Sri Lanka targets 75,000-100,000 monthly arrivals

Sri Lanka’s tourism strategy is shifting from a focus on raw arrival numbers towards prioritising high-yield markets, as data shows regional Asian and Middle Eastern visitors consistently outspending traditional European travellers.

Tourism earnings top US$ 1.5bn in 1H as June registers softer dip under new methodology

Industry faces a steep climb to meet the US$ 3.5bn year-end target, requiring US$ 2bn in the second half of the year amid a downward revision of average daily spend to US$ 148

Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves dip in June amid fluctuating Central Bank market interventions

Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves fell by US$ 431 million in June 2026, dropping to a provisional US$ 6,450 million from US$6,881 million at the end of May 2026, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL).