Haycarb completes amalgamation with subsidiary Ultracarb

Haycarb PLC yesterday disclosed it has completed the amalgamation of its fully-owned subsidiary Ultracarb (Private) Limited, a move aimed at boosting finances and streamlining operations.

HNB-Plantchem empower agri machinery sector

HNB PLC announced a strategic partnership with Plantchem (Private) Limited, aimed at supporting agricultural mechanisation through attractive leasing solutions for Lovol tractors.

NDB Bank becomes only local bank to be named as a Great Place to Work

NDB Bank announced that it has once again been certified as a Great Place to Work for the period July 2025 to July 2026, affirming its status as a leading employer and the only local bank in Sri Lanka to receive

CSE edges closer to 22,000 as banking sector leads turnover

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) extended its upward momentum, edging closer to the 22,000 mark as renewed investor sentiment pushed the market to fresh highs. Investor focus remained on upcoming quarterly earnings releases and dividend announcements, driving strong inflows into equities.

Top business chambers challenge VAT collection without refund system

Three leading business chambers in Sri Lanka have filed a writ application in the Court of Appeal, challenging the Inland Revenue Department’s (IRD) move to collect the Value Added Tax (VAT) from October 1, without first implementing the legally mandated automated refund mechanism.

Tourist arrivals hit record high in September

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector celebrated a historic milestone, recording its highest-ever number of tourist arrivals for the month of September, primarily fuelled by a remarkable surge in visitors from neighbouring India.

Cartoon of the Day 02-10-2025

Condo market on a tear in SL as buyers snap up units early

Vertical living in Sri Lanka’s urban and suburban cities is becoming increasingly popular, with condominium units being scooped up even before construction is completed, pushing the prices steadily higher.

Nations Trust Bank facilitates strategic foreign investment in Sri Lanka’s apparel sector

Nations Trust Bank PLC (NTB) has successfully facilitated a landmark foreign investment in Sri Lanka’s apparel industry, reinforcing its position as a trusted financial partner for complex cross-border transactions and structured finance solutions.

October begins with gains

The ASPI closed in green as a result of price gains in counters such as Melstacorp, Hemas Holdings and Diesel & Motor Engineering with the turnover crossing Rs. 6.4 Bn. A similar behaviour was witnessed in the S&P SL20. High net worth and institutional investor participation was noted in Commercial Bank, Kandy Hotels Company and Lanka Walltiles. Mixed interest was observed in RIL Property, Galadari Hotels and Lanka Milk Foods whilst retail intere

Yield curve nudges up as secondary market activity gains traction

The secondary market demonstrated mixed sentiment yesterday, while trading activity remained moderate in terms of volume.

CMA Sri Lanka presents budget proposals for MSME sector promotion

The CMA Sri Lanka SME Development Committee comprises members from Professional Bodies, Commercial Banks, Chambers of Commerce & Industry and Industry Experts who have been meeting since April 2020 to find solutions and support the SME sector.

DSI Samson Group strengthens leadership with homegrown talent

DSI Samson Group (Pvt) Ltd has appointed eight new board members (now a total of 14) across its subsidiaries, marking a new chapter in the Group’s leadership evolution.

HNB Assurance unveils ‘HANA’ AI Assistant to elevate customer experience

HNB Assurance PLC has introduced HANA, HNB Assurance Next-Generation Assistant, novel AI-powered chatbot designed to transform how customers connect with them.

Union Assurance launches ‘FlexLife’ for any stage of life

Union Assurance announced the launch of Union Assurance FlexLife, an exclusive and innovative Life Insurance solution poised to make a significant impact in the sector.

AIA Insurance crowned Sri Lanka’s #1 MDRT Company

AIA Insurance announced its continued dominance in the life insurance industry, being recognised as Sri Lanka’s #1 MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table) company with the highest number of MDRT members.

Sri Lanka seeks Japanese investors, trade partners at Osaka Expo 2025

Sri Lanka showcased its export potential, investment opportunities and tourism offerings at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, seeking to deepen trade and investment ties with Japan as the island nation continues its economic recovery.

Singer Sri Lanka unveils latest Huawei wearables and tablet lineup

Singer Sri Lanka PLC announced the launch of Huawei’s latest range of smart wearables and tablets, introducing world-class technology to both its retail network and wider national distribution channels.

Seylan Bank appoints Ranil Dissanayake as Chief Operating Officer

Seylan Bank PLC announced the appointment of Ranil Dissanayake as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). Having begun his banking career with Seylan Bank, Dissanayake brings over 35 years of experience in banking leadership, strategy, and operational excellence to the role.

Sonali Ranasinghe becomes TAASL’s first female President

At the landmark 50th Annual General Meeting of the Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka (TAASL), held on September 9, history was made when Sonali Ranasinghe, Chief Operating Officer of Delair Travels of Delmege Group, was appointed the first female President of TAASL.

Port City Colombo holds ‘ICREMV 2025’ pre-conference workshop

Port City Colombo hosted the first Pre-Conference Workshop of the seminal International Conference on Real Estate Management and Valuation (ICREMV) 2025, at the Sales Gallery recently.

KPMG Sri Lanka webinar on ‘Statutory Time Bar and related Case Law’

KPMG Sri Lanka is to hold an exclusive webinar titled “Statutory Time Bar: Case Law Analysis & Rules of Interpretation” on October 9 from 3 p.m. onwards via Microsoft Teams.

Deadline for PRISL Awards 2025 extended to October 10

The Plastics and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka (PRISL) announced the extension of the deadline to apply for PRISL Awards 2025, to October 10.

Sri Lankan legal heritage could offer novel solution to sovereign debt crises

A unique legal principle from Sri Lanka’s Roman-Dutch law heritage, “unjust enrichment”, could be a key to unlocking innovative solutions for nations struggling with sovereign debt, a prominent Sri Lankan lawyer has suggested.

ComBank’s sustainability leadership inspires UNGC forum in New York

The sustainability leadership of Commercial Bank of Ceylon was brought into focus on the global stage when the bank presented insights at the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) annual sessions held in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) annual sessions in New York.

CSE kicks off october on a positive note amid robust turnover

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) opened October with sustained positive momentum, supported by a robust turnover of LKR 6.46 Bn.

Copy not global AI models but develop own: Experts tell SL

To successfully execute its national Artificial Intelligence strategy, Sri Lanka must establish a central coordinating body such as a National AI Centre and forge its own path rather than copying models from Silicon Valley or China.

US advises its investors to navigate Sri Lanka with caution

The United States cautioned its investors to tread carefully in Sri Lanka, saying that while the island nation has returned to economic stability and is opening opportunities across several sectors,

Construction sector expands at faster pace

The construction sector appears to have gotten a new life line from the resumption of the stalled projects and the availability of new ones as industry stakeholders expressed confidence for the sector in the period ahead.

Trade gap narrows as external accounts show resilience

Sri Lanka’s external sector continued its steady recovery in August 2025, supported by solid export growth, rising remittances, and a tourism revival, official data from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) showed.