https://www.lankabusinessonline.com Sri Lanka business and economy news as it breaks Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:27:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/lankabusinessonline-xmas.gif https://www.lankabusinessonline.com 32 32 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/msme-recovery-in-post-ditwah-sri-lanka-turning-geographic-data-into-action/ https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/msme-recovery-in-post-ditwah-sri-lanka-turning-geographic-data-into-action/#respond Thu, 12 Feb 2026 07:03:51 +0000 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/?p=246279 Chaya Dissanayake (Research Officer, IPS), Dr Asanka Wijesinghe (Research Fellow, IPS), Dilani Hirimuthugodage (Research Economist, IPS) Integrating MSME geolocation into a national statistical system would improve recovery support coordination and reduce the risk of fund misallocation.This exercise uses a survey of 2,500 MSMEs conducted in January 2025 to demonstrate how a geographical database can help […]]]> https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/msme-recovery-in-post-ditwah-sri-lanka-turning-geographic-data-into-action/feed/ 0 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/cinnamon-life-and-john-keells-foundation-present-la-bamba-the-song-of-veracruz/ https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/cinnamon-life-and-john-keells-foundation-present-la-bamba-the-song-of-veracruz/#respond Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:33:05 +0000 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/?p=246270 Cinnamon Life, in collaboration with John Keells Foundation (JKF) and in association with Nations Trust Bank (NTB), announced the stagingof the West End–licensed musical La Bamba! The Song of Veracruz at a press conference held on 5 February 2026 at Cinnamon Life, City of Dreams, Colombo. The musical theatre production will be performed at Cinnamon […]]]> https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/cinnamon-life-and-john-keells-foundation-present-la-bamba-the-song-of-veracruz/feed/ 0 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/adb-appoints-shannon-cowlin-as-new-country-director-for-sri-lanka/ https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/adb-appoints-shannon-cowlin-as-new-country-director-for-sri-lanka/#respond Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:22:37 +0000 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/?p=246267 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Shannon Cowlin as its new Country Director for Sri Lanka. She has assumed office in Colombo today. “I am honored to be appointed Country Director of ADB’s Sri Lanka Resident Mission,” Ms. Cowlin said. “For many years, ADB has been a trusted partner of Sri Lanka, supporting the […]]]> https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/adb-appoints-shannon-cowlin-as-new-country-director-for-sri-lanka/feed/ 0 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/hip-welcomes-over-2000-thai-cruise-passengers-signalling-a-new-growth-market-for-sri-lanka/ https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/hip-welcomes-over-2000-thai-cruise-passengers-signalling-a-new-growth-market-for-sri-lanka/#respond Mon, 09 Feb 2026 05:23:03 +0000 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/?p=246263 2,100 Thai cruise passengers arrived at Hambantota International Port (HIP) this week aboard the MV Celebrity Millennium. The call points to the emergence of Thailand as a promising new market for Sri Lanka’s cruise tourism. The Malta-flagged Celebrity Millennium, operated by Celebrity Cruises, arrived from Phuket on 2 February 2026 with 2,171 passengers and 969 […]]]> https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/hip-welcomes-over-2000-thai-cruise-passengers-signalling-a-new-growth-market-for-sri-lanka/feed/ 0 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/record-remittances-to-sri-lanka-hidden-realities-behind-the-headlines/ https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/record-remittances-to-sri-lanka-hidden-realities-behind-the-headlines/#respond Mon, 09 Feb 2026 04:40:46 +0000 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/?p=246258 Dr Bilesha Weeraratne, Research Fellow and Head of Migration and Urbanisation Policy Research, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) Worker remittances to Sri Lanka have set a new all-time high record with USD 8.076 billion in 2025. This 22.8% growth, compared to the USD 6.6 billion received in 2024, is shaped by the […]]]> https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/record-remittances-to-sri-lanka-hidden-realities-behind-the-headlines/feed/ 0 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/ca-sri-lanka-hails-historic-appointment-of-first-ever-female-auditor-general/ https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/ca-sri-lanka-hails-historic-appointment-of-first-ever-female-auditor-general/#respond Sat, 07 Feb 2026 13:09:51 +0000 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/?p=246255 The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), as the national body of accountants has hailed the historic appointment of Chartered Accountant, Ms. Samudika Jayaratna, as the country’s first female Auditor General. In a statement, CA Sri Lanka also expressed its gratitude to His Excellency President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for nominating Ms. […]]]> https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/ca-sri-lanka-hails-historic-appointment-of-first-ever-female-auditor-general/feed/ 0 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/advocata-calls-on-govt-to-commit-to-permanently-ending-vehicle-permit-schemes/ https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/advocata-calls-on-govt-to-commit-to-permanently-ending-vehicle-permit-schemes/#respond Thu, 05 Feb 2026 14:03:11 +0000 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/?p=246253 Advocata warns revival of vehicle permits threatens governance credibility, public trust and economic reform and strongly cautions against government consideration to allow vehicle imports for high-ranking government officials who received permits upon retirement.  According to statements in Parliament, 1,900 permits have already been issued under this concessional scheme for senior officials, with 563 permits issued in 2025 alone. […]]]> https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/advocata-calls-on-govt-to-commit-to-permanently-ending-vehicle-permit-schemes/feed/ 0 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/combank-partners-gaia-greenenergy-to-accelerate-adoption-of-green-loans-leases/ https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/combank-partners-gaia-greenenergy-to-accelerate-adoption-of-green-loans-leases/#respond Thu, 05 Feb 2026 07:39:35 +0000 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/?p=246250 Reinforcing its long-term commitment to sustainability, The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has entered into a strategic partnership with GAIA Greenenergy Holdings to expand access to the Bank’s Green Loans and Green Leases, offering employed and self-employed customers more affordable pathways to adopt solar power.  The partnership was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of […]]]> https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/combank-partners-gaia-greenenergy-to-accelerate-adoption-of-green-loans-leases/feed/ 0 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/lankatiles-expands-southern-footprint-with-second-showroom-in-galle/ https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/lankatiles-expands-southern-footprint-with-second-showroom-in-galle/#respond Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:27:33 +0000 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/?p=246245 Sri Lanka’s leading tile manufacturer, LANKATILES, proudly announces the grand opening of its 58th showroom and second in the Galle  located at No. 145, Matara Road, Pettigala Watta, Galle. This latest addition marks a significant milestone in LANKATILES’ continued journey of design excellence, innovation, and trusted service built over more than five decades. Inspired by […]]]> https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/lankatiles-expands-southern-footprint-with-second-showroom-in-galle/feed/ 0 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/new-leadership-at-slcge-pledges-policy-advocacy-to-strengthen-sme-apparel-exports/ https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/new-leadership-at-slcge-pledges-policy-advocacy-to-strengthen-sme-apparel-exports/#respond Mon, 02 Feb 2026 07:09:26 +0000 https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/?p=246239 TheSri Lanka Chamber of Garment Exporters (SLCGE)held its28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Colombo, marking a significant leadership transition and signalling a renewed policy-driven focus on enhancing the competitiveness of Sri Lanka’s small and medium-scale apparel exporters. A key highlight of the AGM was the conclusion of Mr. Bandula Fernando’s distinguished 13-year tenure as President […]]]> https://www.lankabusinessonline.com/new-leadership-at-slcge-pledges-policy-advocacy-to-strengthen-sme-apparel-exports/feed/ 0