Port City Colombo deepens university ties to curb brain drain, boost talent pipeline

Port City Colombo, Sri Lanka’s first multi-services Special Economic Zone (SEZ), is strengthening academic partnerships in a bid to stem brain drain and build a skilled workforce to support its ambition of becoming a regional hub for investment and services.

Union Assurance offloads 22% stake in Fairfirst Insurance to Fairfax Asia

Union Assurance PLC (UAL), a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings PLC, has divested its 22 percent equity stake in non-life insurer Fairfirst Insurance Limited, the Colombo Stock Exchange disclosed this week.

ASPI gains 2.3% during the week

The ASPI closed in green as a result of price gains in counters such as John Keells Holdings, Hayleys and Sierra Cables with the turnover crossing Rs. 6.5 Bn.

Muted trading marks end of week

Market activity wrapped up the week on a soft note, as volumes stayed constrained and investor participation remained measured.

Barefoot and POLSPOTTEN announce design collaboration

Two design powerhouses, Sri Lanka’s handloom brand Barefoot and Dutch luxury interiors brand POLSPOTTEN, are joining forces for the first time in a landmark collaboration set to debut in 2025/2026.

Three-wheeler drivers get training on first aid & defensive driving

Aligned with the National Road Safety Plan and its objective of enhancing road safety and community well-being, Michelin Lanka, in partnership with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society and the Sri Lanka Police, has launched a joint training programme on Basic First Aid and Defensive Driving.

ZEISS launches MyoCare lenses in Sri Lanka to safeguard children’s vision

ZEISS, a pioneer of science in optics and optoelectronics, has announced the launch of its ZEISS MyoCare lenses in Sri Lanka, bringing advanced myopia management solutions for children across the country.

ComBank partners with ICT to raise breast cancer awareness

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has joined hands with the Indira Cancer Trust (ICT) as the Gold Sponsor of the TLC (Touch | Look | Check) – Triathlon 2025,

Yema Marketing introduces new laundry liquid to hotels

Yema Marketing has officially introduced its latest innovation, Yema Laundry Liquid to hotels, promising a revolutionary cleaning experience for businesses alike.

JXG partners with Foundation of Goodness to uplift rural communities

JXG (Janashakthi Group) has joined hands with the Foundation of Goodness as a key enabler of the Monaragala Village Heartbeat Empowerment Centre, strengthening its pledge to foster lasting, purpose-led impact in underserved communities.

Sampath Bank at Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil festival

Sampath Bank took an active role at the historic Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil Temple Festival in Jaffna recently.

LOLC’s Livestock Insurance promotes Human-Leopard coexistence

The Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya), endemic to the island and with fewer than 1,000 mature individuals remaining in the wild, faces a precarious future as it struggles against habitat loss, prey depletion, snares, and retaliation killings.

Moose Clothing opens first store at One Galle Face mall

Moose Clothing Company officially opened its first retail store at the One Galle Face Mall in Colombo recently.

Nex-Gen Engineering partners with SDF to deliver community-centric interior design

In an effort to modernise and humanise banking environments, Nex-Gen Engineering Studio has been entrusted with the comprehensive interior design and renovation of Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC‘s (SDF) branch network.

Ten Sri Lankan students awarded Commonwealth Scholarships

Ten outstanding Sri Lankan students have been awarded Commonwealth Scholarships to pursue their postgraduate studies in the UK this year, joining a distinguished global network of future leaders dedicated to driving positive national and global impact.

Spa Ceylon shines a lens on the Human-Elephant conflict

Spa Ceylon together with its conservation arm Ceylon Elephant Co., launched the Majestic Ceylon Elephant Photography Competition & Exhibition, a four-day public showcase dedicated to raising awareness of the Human-Elephant conflict in Sri Lanka.

Manuja Hewawasam honoured with three Golds

The Club Awarding Ceremony organized by Lions Clubs International District 306 was held recently at the Royal Colombo Golf Club.

John Keells English language scholars shine at English Day events

The English Day events of the `English for Teens’ scholars of 2024/25 under the John Keells English Language Scholarship Programme (JKELSP) were concluded recently, marking the culmination of a year of learning essential skills for future prospects.

CSE marks fresh all-time high as investor optimism strengthens

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) closed at a new all-time high on Friday, with the ASPI gaining 119.83 points (+0.57%) to end at 21,085.09, while the S&P SL20 advanced 24.86 points (+0.42%) to 5,996.16. Market momentum remained firm throughout the session, fueled by renewed investor optimism following encouraging GDP figures and improved confidence in macroeconomic stability.

Construction sector expands 8.5% in 2Q bringing 1H growth to 9.6% 

The local construction sector grew by a robust 8.5 percent in the three months ended in June 2025 from the same period in 2024, extending its nearly two-year long growth which began in the final quarter of

Sri Lanka bets on investor protection and infrastructure push in 2026 Budget

The government is set to anchor its 2026 budget on a decisive pivot from economic stabilisation to aggressive, investment-led growth, with a strong emphasis on creating a secure and predictable

Lake House Technologies powers Sri Lanka’s first biodegradable banking card with BOC

Lake House Technologies, one of Sri Lanka’s pioneers in banking card supply and innovation, announced its collaboration with global technology leader Thales to launch the nation’s first-ever eco-friendly

Global education provider Cambridge International scales up operations in Sri Lanka

Cambridge International is scaling up its operations in Sri Lanka, setting up a dedicated business presence and building a local team to strengthen ties with schools and the government, its Managing Director Rod

Jetwing Hotels eyes strategic overseas growth amidst domestic heritage focus

Jetwing Hotels, one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic hospitality brands, has affirmed its long-term ambition for foreign expansion, even as its immediate strategy sharpens on the restoration and operation of historical

ACME Printing and Packaging announces Rs. 1.425bn rights issue

ACME Printing and Packaging PLC has announced a significant rights issue to raise Rs. 1.425 billion to fund factory relocation, settle debts, and support a broader financial recovery plan.

Moderate levels of activity persist in secondary market

The secondary market recorded moderate activity yesterday; however, this had no impact on the overall yield curve, which remained stable.

Crossings account for 25.7% of turnover

The ASPI closed in green as a result of price gains in counters such as Nations Trust Bank , DFCC Bank and John Keells Holdings with the turnover crossing Rs. 6.8 bn.

Upskilling, inclusion and innovation Future of Sri Lanka’s IT sector

Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) Chairperson and 99X Technologies COO Shehani Seneviratne in an interview shares her vision for Sri Lanka’s tech industry.

Rewiring for growth: How govt. and fintechs can power Sri Lanka’s digital revival

The world economy is entering a new phase, with growth and innovation increasingly driven by Asia’s rising economic powerhouses and by global waves of technological disruption. For Sri Lanka, a nation

SLTDA embraces digital transformation joining ‘GovPay’

In a groundbreaking initiative to modernize Sri Lanka’s tourism industry through digitalization, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has joined GovPay – the government’s digital payment