Toastmasters Int’l World Champion Sabyasachi Sengupta to inspire SL audiences

Sri Lanka will soon play host to one of the world’s most accomplished communicators as Sabyasachi Sengupta, the reigning World Champion of Public Speaking (2025), visits the island from February 21 to 24, 2026, under the auspices of Toastmasters District 82.

BeWAXed marks 13 years

BeWAXed, Sri Lanka’s pioneering salon chain dedicated exclusively to professional waxing and specialised skincare, celebrates its 13th anniversary this year, marking a journey defined by steady growth, women-led entrepreneurship and the enduring strength of local businesses.

Hilton Colombo welcomes Ramadan with ‘A Middle Eastern Flair’

Hilton Colombo invites guests to observe the season of Ramadan with ‘A Middle Eastern Flair,’ a specially curated Iftar celebration taking place from February 17 to March 18, 2026, at Graze Kitchen.

Be Desi unveils Colombo’s largest Pop Desi fashion destination in Wellawatte

This Valentine’s Day, Be Desi unveiled its largest flagship fashion destination to date at No. 37, Galle Road, Colombo 06, transforming the heart of Colombo into Sri Lanka’s newest hotspot for Pop Desi and high-end Bollywood-inspired style.

Ministry of Brands introduces a new era of retail for Sri Lanka with off-price

Ministry of Brands (MOB), Sri Lanka’s first off-price retailer, officially opened its doors to the public, marking a new era in the country’s retail landscape.

Sri Lanka launches Rs.2bn interim promotion campaign to target high-yield tourists

Sri Lanka is set to launch an interim digital and public relations campaign with an investment of Rs. 2 billion, aiming to shift the tourism industry’s focus from mere arrival volumes to attracting high-yielding

Govt. cracks down on illegal foreign-run tourism businesses

Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, have intensified their crackdown on illegal tourism operations run by foreigners, resulting in the apprehension of 75 individuals

CMTA pushes for fair and transparent vehicle import processes

Sri Lanka’s vehicle import valuation system needs urgent correction to prevent revenue leakages and restore fairness in the market, the Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) said, warning that current

Tourism authority targets high-end Bangladeshi travellers with first-ever roadshow

Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities are gearing up to host their first-ever tourism roadshow in Bangladesh, recognising the neighbouring South Asian nation as a rapidly emerging and high-potential source market.

WindForce leads Sri Lanka’s largest 120MW/480 MWh standalone BESS initiative

WindForce PLC announced that it has received the Letters of Award on 16 February 2026 for twelve standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects, secured through an international competitive bidding process conducted by the Ceylon Electricity Board. These projects form part of Sri Lanka’s first-ever grid-scale standalone BESS programme and collectively represent the largest such initiative undertaken in the country to date. The programme

Renuka Holdings unit proposes amalgamation of export arm

Renuka Holdings PLC’s unit Renuka Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd has proposed an amalgamation with its fully owned subsidiary Renuka Agro Exports (Pvt) Ltd, as part of a group restructuring move, the company said

Long end sustains selling pressure, yields edge slightly up

Yesterday the market witnessed some selling activity, particularly at the long end of the curve, which in turn prompted a marginal upward adjustment in the yield curve amid moderate volumes.

Indices close in red

The ASPI closed in red as a result of price losses in counters such as Sampath Bank, Colombo Dockyard and Dialog Axiata with the turnover crossing Rs. 4.9 bn.

Yamaha unveils Sri Lanka’s first hybrid motorcycle

Associated Motorways (Private) Limited (AMW), the official distributor for Yamaha Motorcycles, recently unveiled Yamaha FZ-S Fi hybrid, Sri Lanka’s first hybrid motorcycle, at a prestigious launch event held at

INSEE Cement recommences limestone rail operations

INSEE Cement, Sri Lanka’s leading cement manufacturer and supplier and the only fully integrated cement plant in the country, announced the recommencement of limestone rail transportation from its Aruwakkalu

IDL emerges champion at CIPM Great HR Quiz 2026

International Distillers Limited (IDL), one of Sri Lanka’s foremost spirits manufacturers with a distinguished legacy spanning over four decades, achieved a major milestone by winning CIPM Great HR Quiz 2026, in

Sampath Bank-COYLE launch Mastercard World Affinity Credit Card

Sampath Bank has collaborated with the Chamber of Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) to introduce the Sampath COYLE Mastercard World Affinity Credit Card, an exclusive proposition created for entrepreneurs

TWC Capital advises CBL Group on US $ 25mn Indonesian acquisition

TWC Capital (Pvt.) Ltd, the corporate financial advisory arm of TWC Holdings, acted as the exclusive buy-side financial adviser to CBL Group on its acquisition of PT Tri Jaya Tangguh Indonesia, a large-scale

St. Anthony’s launches Blackwood luxury engineered doors

St. Anthony’s marked a milestone with the launch of Blackwood – luxury engineered doors, the latest addition to its building-solutions portfolio.

EFutures relocates to new office

EFutures, one of the award-winning technology and software outsourcing companies, has announced the relocation of its operations to a new office at Bullers Lane, Colombo, reinforcing its continued growth and

CICRA Campus launches Qualification Scotland programmes in Sri Lanka

CICRA to offer advanced diplomas in cybersecurity and computing under Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework By Shannine Daniel The Centre for Integrated Communication Research and Advocacy (CICRA) Campus officially launched its Qualification Scotland programmes recently. According to CICRA Campus CEO and Director Boshan Dayaratne, Qualification Scotland is a new national body that was created to replace the Scottish qualification authorit

Metropolitan Technologies wins at Great HR Quiz 2026

Metropolitan Technologies is announced a significant milestone achieved by its human resources team, who emerged as Winners in the Special Category Award at Great HR Quiz 2026, organised by the

Good things done wrong – Combatting smoking

A recent article quoted National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Chairman Dr. Ananda Rathnayaka, stating that 50 persons die daily from tobacco use. With an annual total of 18,250 then, in a

Capital goods sector dominates turnover as market consolidates

The Colombo Stock Exchange ended the session on a negative note, with both the ASPI and S&P SL20 retreating after hitting intraday highs above the 24,000 level.

Vehicle registrations hit record high in January

Sri Lanka’s vehicle registrations rose to a record high in January, driven by a strong demand for two-wheelers and a steady expansion in the secondary market, while a sharp pickup in truck and tipper volumes pointed to early signs of recovery in the construction-linked activity.

Power and Energy Ministry to set up independent energy regulator as new players strain resources

The Power and Energy Ministry has initiated moves to establish an independent regulatory authority for the petroleum sector, admitting that it currently lacks the resources and manpower to effectively regulate the expanded market, following the entry of global giants Sinopec and R.M. Parks.

Unit trust assets top Rs.610bn in January

The unit trust industry kicked off 2026 on a stronger footing, with the assets under management rising above Rs.600 billion by end-January, supported by the renewed investor appetite for equity-linked products. The industry reported Rs.610 billion in assets under management, up 6.1 percent from a year earlier and 3.8 percent higher than December 2025 levels, with the funds spread across 84 portfolios managed by 16 licensed companies.

Tender for Muthurajawela-BIA aviation fuel pipeline to be awarded in April

The Energy Ministry is on track to award the contract for the construction of the aviation fuel pipeline from Muthurajawela to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in April 2026.

Indices close in green

Indices closed in green as a result of price gains in counters such as Sampath Bank, Hatton National Bank and John Keells Holdings with the turnover crossing Rs.5.6 Bn. High net worth and institutional investor participation was noted in ACL Cables, C. W. Mackie and Commercial Bank. Mixed interest was observed in Softlogic Capital, Asia Siyaka Commodities and Sampath Bank whilst retail interest was noted in HVA Foods, SMB Leasing and Browns Inves

January tea production falls 4% year-on-year

The Ceylon Tea production slipped in January 2026 from a year earlier, as the weaker output from the low-grown areas outweighed the gains at the higher elevations, the industry data showed.