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.

Market surges on ceasefire optimism, records one of highest gains in CSE history

The Colombo Stock Exchange witnessed a powerful rebound, with both indices posting significant gains in a strongly bullish session. The ASPI surged by over 980 points within the first 10 minutes of trading, reflecting a sharp turnaround in investor sentiment. Although the index moderated thereafter, it maintained a strong upward trajectory, holding gains within the 800–900 point range throughout the session.

Sri Lanka records nearly 15 million local malware attacks in 2025: Kaspersky

Sri Lanka recorded 14,960,244 local malware incidents in 2025, with 37.4% of users affected by threats spread through removable media such as USB drives, CDs and DVDs, according to the latest Kaspersky Security Bulletin. The country ranks 48th globally for local threat exposure.

LAUGFS Gas releases 30,000 cylinders daily to meet festive demand

LAUGFS Gas PLC has ramped up its island-wide distribution, releasing approximately 30,000 LPG cylinders daily following the resumption of filling operations at its Hambantota (HBT) and Mabima plants.

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.

Building forward: Excello Developers on strategy, stability and future of SL’s construction sector

As global uncertainty affects the local industries, Sri Lanka’s construction sector is making careful adjustments.

How do we plug into India’s future?

In a volatile world, India is emerging as a stable destination for global capital, said Baker Tilly CEO Francesca Lagerberg, to the Times of India last week. Investors are seeking trusted and stable markets and with the correct positioning, India can exceed expectations, she noted.

Foundation.LK’s DiGiSavi digitally empowers 1mn Sri Lankans

Foundation.LK, a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to equipping Sri Lankans with the knowledge, skills and resources to navigate the digital world safely and confidently, officially launched its latest initiative, the DiGiSavi project, at the SLFI Auditorium.

IBH Real Estate marks 6 years

Marking a significant milestone, IBH Real Estate celebrates six years in business this year, reflecting a journey defined by growth, trust and a commitment to excellence within Sri Lanka’s evolving real estate landscape.

Luxury Villas in Asia: Built for boutique hospitality; designed for performance

Luxury Villas in Asia (LVIA), a subsidiary of Nyne Hotels, is rapidly establishing itself as a leading integrated commercial solutions provider for Sri Lanka’s boutique hospitality sector, combining sales, reservations and e-commerce into a single, streamlined platform.

Market reverses early gains amid rising uncertainty

The Colombo bourse experienced a mixed trading session, as early bullish momentum faded amid weakening investor confidence. The ASPI surged over 186 points within the first half hour of trading, reflecting initial optimism. However, the rally proved short-lived, with the index gradually declining throughout the session as sentiment turned cautious.

NDB fraud exposes control gaps as losses climb to Rs.13.2bn

A control failure that began beneath the surface has now forced National Development Bank PLC (NDB) to confront a multi-billion-rupee fraud, testing both its governance framework and the broader confidence in the banking system.

Disaster-hit borrowers get credit protection under CRIB relief plan

Sri Lanka’s credit regulator has moved to shield the borrowers hit by Cyclone Ditwah from longer-term financial fallout, introducing temporary relief measures that prevent the disaster-related repayment delays from damaging the credit profiles.

Sri Lanka launches national QR adoption drive; scraps merchant fees for transactions under Rs.5,000

​Sri Lanka officially launched the National QR Payment Adoption Programme yesterday, introducing key measures to accelerate the country’s transition toward a less cash economy, including the complete removal of the merchant discount rate for all LankaQR transactions up to Rs.5,000.

Fitch publishes ‘A(lka)’ rating on WindForce’s proposed debentures

Fitch Ratings has published the National Long-Term Rating of ‘A(lka)’ on WindForce PLC’s proposed senior unsecured redeemable debentures of up to Rs.4 billion.

Week begins on a mixed note

The ASPI edged up as a result of price gains in counters such as DFCC Bank, Cargills and Access Engineering with the turnover crossing Rs. 3.0 Bn. Meanwhile, the S&P SL20 closed in red. High net worth and institutional investor participation was noted in Melstacorp, Tokyo Cement Compan and John Keells Holdings. Mixed interest was observed in Sampath Bank, Lanka Milk Foods and Prime Lands Residencies whilst retail interest was noted in Browns Inve

Modest buying interest pushes yield curve slightly lower

At the start of the week, the secondary market saw modest buying interest, accompanied by low volumes and activity, pushing the yield curve slightly lower.

Vallibel Finance sets course for expansion with Rs. 2.12bn capital raise

In a decisive step to reinforce its financial foundation and fuel its next wave of expansion, Vallibel Finance has unveiled plans to raise approximately Rs. 2.12 billion via a Rights Issue. The capital-raising initiative comes amid a gradually stabilizing economic landscape in Sri Lanka, where financial institutions are increasingly prioritizing resilience, capital adequacy, and forward-looking growth strategies.

Delair Travels rebrands as Delmege Travels

Delair Travels announced its official rebranding as Delmege Travels, marking an important milestone in its growth journey and reinforcing its integration within the Delmege Group’s unified brand identity.

National Bartenders Competition returns

Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry marks a significant milestone with the launch of the 31st National Bartenders Competition, celebrating over three decades of excellence, talent development, and innovation in the art of bartending.