Colombo Port starts 2026 strong as transshipment surges 15%

The Port of Colombo kicked off 2026 with robust performance metrics, driven by a significant expansion in its core transshipment business and the successful scaling of new deep-water terminal capacity.

Exports rebound sharply in January

The local export sector kicked off 2026 on a firmer footing with January earnings rising 13.7 percent year-on-year (YoY) to US$ 1.53 billion, offering an early boost to foreign exchange inflows and growth expectations.

January national prices soften to 2.4% on lower food prices

The national consumer prices softened in January from December 2025, as both the food prices and non-food prices eased after rising at the final month of last year. This was due to the flood-related crop losses and the festive season demand.

SL apparel exporters await Trump’s new tariffs following US Supreme Court decision

Sri Lanka’s apparel sector is bracing for a fresh wave of volatility after United States President Donald Trump announced a sudden escalation of global import duties to 15 percent.

Govt. evaluates proposals to expand domestic aviation network by second half of year

Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities are banking on a revived domestic aviation sector, to distribute tourist traffic more evenly across the island, expecting new operations to materialise by the second half of this year as several investment proposals undergo final evaluation.

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

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.

IMF Chief calls for accelerated recovery and rural revival

In a rare high-level engagement, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat, which affirmed the international lender’s commitment to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and long-term growth.

Sri Lanka greets IMF Chief Georgieva

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday on what is a landmark visit, combining urgent disaster assessment with a high-profile economic mission.

Sri Lanka tourism crosses 400,000 arrivals mark; February momentum builds

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has maintained its upward trajectory in 2026, surpassing the 400,000 cumulative arrival mark within the first two weeks of February, driven by a consistent influx of visitors from traditional source markets.

Ports advised to cut container rehandles before betting on mega projects

The global port optimisation experts are cautioning the Sri Lankan terminal operators against prioritising massive infrastructure investments without first addressing the underlying operational inefficiencies, warning that capacity expansion is not the immediate answer for growth.

Transact in Rupees, not foreign currency: CBSL warns local businesses and consumers

The Central Bank yesterday issued a strong warning to businesses and consumers over the growing use of foreign currency for domestic payments, asserting such transactions are illegal and punishable by heavy

SL briefs bondholders on US $ 7.6bn restructured debt in global investor call

The Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry concluded a formal briefing yesterday for the international investors, marking a key milestone in the country’s post-restructuring financial transparency.

SME Chamber proposes Rs. 300bn ‘Bad Bank’ to tackle toxic loans

The Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries (SLCSMI) has unveiled a comprehensive blueprint for a Rs. 300 billion “Bad Bank” to rescue the nation’s embattled small and medium enterprise (SME) sector.

Sri Lanka secures nearly US $ 1.5bn in foreign financing in 2025

Sri Lanka secured approximately US $ 1.48 billion in foreign development financing during the financial year ending December 31, 2025, as the major multilateral partners ramped up budget support to stabilise the economy and respond to the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah.

January tourism earnings at US$ 378mn

While January 2026 recorded historic visitor numbers, earnings from the trade witnessed a contraction, highlighting persistent concerns regarding lower spending and confirmed revenue leakage.

Accountants best placed to lead sustainability reporting: IFAC Chief

Financial markets need trust worthy, high quality information on sustainability related risks and opportunities so that investors and lenders can make efficient decisions, said International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) President Jean Bouquot during his recent visit to Sri Lanka.

Banks’ revival units failed to deliver: Ceylon Federation of MSME

The Ceylon Federation of MSME (CFMSME) has alleged that “Revival Units” mandated by the Central Bank to rescue struggling businesses have been a spectacular failure, restructuring only 0.03 percent of the sector’s distressed loans.

Manual data sharing continues at Excise Department as digital system faces delays

​A high-level initiative to integrate the IT systems of 13 key government revenue-collecting institutions has hit a critical bottleneck, with the Excise Department recording zero percent progress in its digital integration efforts as of mid-2025.

Tourist arrivals hit record high in January kicking off 2026 with strong momentum

​Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has recorded a historic start to the new year, with arrivals in January 2026 surging to an all-time monthly high of 277,327 visitors.

Cash demand defies SL’s cashless drive

Sri Lanka’s sharp surge in currency withdrawals during the festive season conceals a more persistent dependence on cash that now contrasts with the government’s renewed push towards a ‘cashless economy’.

Sri Lanka’s external sector steadies in 2025

​Sri Lanka closed 2025 with a cautiously improved external position, as persistent current account surpluses, record-high worker remittances, and a stronger services balance helped offset widening trade gaps and softer price dynamics, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL) latest external sector performance data.

Colombo inflation picks up to 2.3% in January

The headline inflation in the Colombo district accelerated to 2.3 percent in January 2026 from a year ago.

“Beautiful country with huge potential”: IMF’s Dr. Srinivasan on Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s economic recovery plans face new uncertainties after Cyclone Ditwah, but the International Monetary Fund (IMF) signalled continued support this week as it assessed the storm’s impact on the island

John Keells 3Q EBITDA surges 68% to Rs.23.76bn

Premier bluechip John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) posted a 68 percent jump in third-quarter earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to Rs.23.76 billion, driven by strong momentum across its diversified operations.

New study flags US$ 1.6bn export shock despite government trade talk optimism

A new study has sounded the alarm on Sri Lanka›s export prospects, revealing that the country faces a potential loss of US$ 1.62 billion in exports to the United States in 2026 due to escalating trade policy distortions.

Sri Lanka exports top US $ 17.2bn in 2025

Sri Lanka’s export earnings surpassed US $ 17.2 billion in 2025, extending the recovery in external trade as merchandise and services exports posted broad-based gains, according to the data compiled by Sri Lanka Customs and the Export Development Board (EDB).

CSE trades sideways as market enters consolidation near 24,000

The Colombo Stock Exchange began the week on a mixed note, with investor sentiment remaining largely subdued as the market showed signs of consolidation near the key 24,000 level.

IFC commits US$ 166mn to Sri Lanka to boost SME lending, trade finance

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has announced a US$166 million investment package aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s private sector-led recovery, signalling renewed confidence in the country’s financial system as it shifts from macroeconomic stabilisation to longer-term growth.

Colombo ranked as world’s most unaffordable city for homebuyers in 2026

Colombo has been identified as the most difficult city globally for local income earners to purchase property in 2026, revealing a severe decoupling between asset prices and domestic wages.