Category: Business and Economy

Total vehicle registrations declined 12.1% month-on-month to 47,628 units in October from 54,214 in September, reflecting a broad-based contraction across most major vehicle categories, according to JB Securities. Two-wheeler registrations fell 13% to 33,722 units, while motor car registrations declined 17.9% to 2,802. SUV and crossover registrations dropped 13.8% to 3,399 units. Pickup and commercial…

The CSE yesterday kicked off on a positive note but later turned negative due to profit- takings engrossing investors. Amid those developments both indices moved downwards. The All Share Price Index went down by 90.46 points, while the S and P SL20 declined by 27.74 points. Turnover stood at Rs 4.8 billion with nine crossings.…

The Sri Lankan Government has gazetted the proposed Public-Private Partnership Bill, paving the way for the establishment of a dedicated National Agency and a legal framework to promote and facilitate public-private partnership (PPP) projects in the country. The Bill, titled Public-Private Partnerships Bill, provides provisions for the establishment of a National Agency for Public-Private Partnerships…

A high-level business delegation from South Korea met with Minister of Industries and Entrepreneur Development Sunil Handunnetti to discuss potential bilateral collaborations in Sri Lanka’s graphite mining sector. The meeting was headed by renowned actor and film personality Gagan Malik—widely celebrated by Sri Lankan audiences for his iconic portrayal of Prince Siddhartha in the acclaimed…

Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando yesterday described the 2027 Budget, to be presented today by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, as a long-term economic transformation plan aimed at moving Sri Lanka towards upper-middle-income status. He said the Budget would set out a phased pathway, supported by strategies, specific actions and priority-based resource…

 Sri Lanka’s official remittances from expatriate workers rose 3.3 percent to US$ 735.6 million in October 2026, official data showed, while they are expected to hit fresh record high in November, analysts said. The total remittances in the first 10 months of the year reached US$7,600.9 million with a 16.5 percent growth, Central Bank data…

Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange was trending lower on Wednesday, a day ahead of the National Budget reading, with the benchmark All Share Price Index moving down 0.27 percent. The ASPI was down 60.10 points at 22,063.29, while the more liquid S&P SL20 was down 0.28 percent, or 17.76 points, at 6,350.36. Positive contributors to…

Proposed long-term programme combines Australian zero-emission bus technology, genuine local chassis and body manufacturing, local battery assembly, skilled employment, and regional and international export potential.   Australian bus manufacturer Custom Denning is planning what would be the biggest investment in electric bus manufacturing in Sri Lanka by an overseas entity, with a proposed facility to manufacture…

The Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka has presented the country’s investment opportunities, incentives and business facilitation framework to British investors and business leaders at a series of promotional events held in London on October 21 and 22. The two-day programme, organised by the Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Sri Lankan…

SRI Lanka’s tourism arrivals surpassed 1.9 million in 2026, with over 49,900 visitors registered in the first eight days of November, but remained below last year’s pace ahead of the crucial winter season. According to the latest data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), a total of 49,929 tourists arrived between 1…