Indices close in red

The ASPI closed in red as a result of price losses in counters such as Colombo Dockyard, Richard Pieris & Company and Hatton National Bank with the turnover crossing Rs. 5.2 Bn. Meanwhile, the S&P SL20 edged down.

Salesforce to launch startup programme in SL this month

Salesforce, the world’s leading Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, will be launching its start up programme in Sri Lanka this month.

Secondary market yields tick higher post-T-bond auction

The week started with the first T-bond auction for 2026, where the yields edged up at the auction.

Synogen commissions one of country’s largest rooftop solar projects

Synogen, a clean energy engineering and technology company, has successfully commissioned one of Sri Lanka’s largest rooftop solar photovoltaic projects - a 6.4 MWp installation for Best Pacific Textiles Lanka (BPTL).

Asiri Health partners ICTA to speed up SL’s HealthTech startup ecosystem

Asiri Health partnered with the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) to support and accelerate the growth of HealthTech startups, marking a significant step in strengthening Sri Lanka’s innovation-led healthcare ecosystem.

People’s Leasing to recognise excellence at ‘PLC Premier Awards’

People’s Leasing & Finance PLC will host the PLC Premier Awards 2025 on January 17 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, recognising outstanding Branch and Marketing Officers who delivered exceptional performance under different categories during the financial year 2024/25.

Women in Tech Sri Lanka and Teens in AI bring annual International Women’s Day Global Techathon to Sri Lanka

Women in Tech Sri Lanka in collaboration with Teens in AI bring the fourth annual International Women’s Day Global Techathon to the Sri Lankan community. This initiative, led locally by Women in Tech Sri Lanka, aims to inspire teens to explore future pathways in technology and Artificial Intelligence through collaborative, hands-on learning experiences.

FitsAir certified to conduct in-house Airbus A320 pilot training

FitsAir, has been officially certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) as an Approved Training Organisation (ATO), authorising the airline to conduct in-house Airbus A320 pilot type training.

Prime Group opens Kalutara branch

Prime Group recently expanded footprint opening the Group’s 7th branch in Main Street, Kalutara - South. The new branch is a strategically located and a technologically advanced space, designed to provide greater convenience and access to customers in and around the region, and is among several initiatives Prime Group has planned in the coming months.

Apex AI takes Sri Lankan AI expertise global

Apex AI, the AI-automation company of Roar Global, is scaling its Sri Lankan operations to deliver world-class automation capability into high-growth artificial intelligence initiatives across the United States, Europe, and Australia.

CICRA Campus approved as a centre by Qualification Scotland

CICRA Campus announced a landmark achievement in its commitment to accessible, highquality education. From December 2025 onwards, CICRA Campus has been officially approved as a centre by Qualification Scotland, the national regulator qualifications in Scotland.

IASL launches E-Motor Card and donates 500 tablets to Sri Lanka Police

The Insurance Association of Sri Lanka (IASL) concluded the official launching ceremony of the E-Motor Insurance Digital Card and the handover of 500 tablets to the Sri Lanka Police Department at Ministry of Public Security and Parliament Affairs Auditorium, Suhurupaya Battaramulla.

Capital market watchdog clamps down after trading abuse jolts Colombo bourse

Capital market watchdog, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), confirmed it has identified the key players behind the price distortions that triggered an unprecedented halt on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) last week.

AFC Asia Frontier Fund increases Sri Lanka weight to 13.6% in 2025

The Hong Kong-based AFC Asia Frontier Fund (AAFF) has significantly increased its exposure to Sri Lankan equities, raising its country weighting to 13.6 percent by the end of 2025 from 12.9 percent a year earlier, as it bets on a sustained economic recovery despite recent weather-related setbacks.

Tourism disappoints 2025 earnings as income falls short despite higher arrivals

Earnings from Sri Lanka’s tourism industry disappointed in 2025, as revenue failed to correspond with the surge in arrivals, which reached a fresh high during the year.

Sri Lanka closes 2025 with record high remittances

Sri Lanka recorded US$ 879.1 million in foreign currency inflows in December 2025, marking the highest monthly remittance income the country has ever registered.

Credit to private sector on a tear

Credit flows to the economy accelerated with renewed vigour in November, with disbursements reaching a new high and extending a months-long record-breaking streak that began in mid-2025.

CH17 launches SL’s 1st integrated HRM, rewards and loyalty SaaS platform

CH17 Loyalty announced the launch of a comprehensive human resource management (HRM) suite with a fully embedded rewards and loyalty module—a first-of-its-kind software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution developed for the modern enterprise.

SLASSCOM People Summit 2026 on January 30

SLASSCOM’s 15th edition of its People Summit returns on January 30, 2026, at Cinnamon Life, Colombo, reinforcing its leadership in driving progressive people practices.

Siyapatha Finance welcomes new year with renewed hope and resilience

Siyapatha Finance PLC ceremoniously welcomed 2026 at its head office, auspiciously commencing a new year of growth and prosperity with traditional rituals and religious observances.

HNBA offers Rs.1mn free life cover to Cyclone Dithwa-affected customers

HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) has announced a special relief initiative titled ‘HNB Assurance Gift of Protection’, offering a free life insurance cover of Rs.1 million to its policyholders affected by the recent Dithwa Cyclone.

Earthfoam dominates 2025 awards season with 5 major national honours

Earthfoam Private Limited, Sri Lanka’s leading natural and organic latex-based mattress, topper and pillow manufacturer and exporter, has emerged as a standout performer in the 2025 national awards season, securing five prestigious titles across multiple industry platforms.

People’s Bank commits to rebuild MSMEs through govt.-backed financing

Following are the excerpts from an interview with People’s Bank Deputy General Manager SME, Development and Microfinance Wickrama Narayana.

MiHCM Consulting launched to deliver end-to-end HR transformation

Global HR technology provider MiHCM stepped into 2026 by announcing a new era for the group, with the launch of MiHCM Consulting – a new consulting practice within MiHCM Group designed to deliver end-to-end HR transformation, change management and advisory services for organisations across South Asia and Southeast Asia, aligning organisations towards the future of work.

Metalabs’ mAudit wins ICSDB Excellence Award

Metalabs, a Sri Lankan-incubated technology innovator with development operations in Sri Lanka and business operations across Singapore, the United States, Oceanic region and Gulf, has been honoured with the Silver award in the Client Implementations (Enterprise) Category, at ICSDB Excellence Awards 2025, for its flagship compliance platform mAudit.

Sri Lanka emerges as third fastest growing destination for Australian tourists

​Sri Lanka has secured its position as the third fastest-growing travel destination for Australian tourists in 2025, recording a 19 percent year-on-year growth in arrivals.

TikTok reveals Sri Lanka’s top searches in 2025

TikTok recently shared the top searched words on the platform in Sri Lanka in 2025, offering a snapshot of what Sri Lankans were most curious about this year — from the celebrities and creators they follow, to the music and dramas they can’t stop talking about, the places they’re planning to visit, and the moments driving conversation across the platform.

Sri Lanka Expo 2026 returns after 14 years, set for June at BMICH

Sri Lanka Expo 2026, organised by the Export Development Board (EDB) and the Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry will be held from 18 to 21 June, at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH).

Central Bank reaffirms Rs. 1.1 Mn deposit insurance coverage

In a recent public notice on social media, the Central Bank reiterated that depositors in licenced commercial and specialised banks and licenced finance companies are automatically insured under the Sri Lanka Deposit Insurance Scheme (SLDIS), administered by the Central Bank.

ASPI gains 3.5% during the week

The ASPI closed in green as a result of price gains in counters such as John Keells Holdings, Commercial Bank and Vallibel One with the turnover crossing Rs. 8.5 Bn.