Coconut-based exports have surpassed USD 1 billion in 2025 and are expected to close the year at around USD 1.2 billion, a substantial increase from USD 800 million in 2024, representing over 40% year-on-year growth. In a statement, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, said this marks a major milestone for Sri Lanka’s coconut industry. “The primary constraint facing further expansion remains nut productivity. Recognising this, the Government initiated several structural interventions in 2025 to improve crop productivity and expand coconut cultivated land. However, these measures will yield results only over the medium to long term. In…
The Sri Lankan Report
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Electricity Board has sought a tariff hike to increase revenues by 11.57 percent including a recovery of part of the losses in the last quarter. The tariff revision proposal for the first quarter of 2026 was made considering factors such as fuel availability and prices, hydro inflows, plant maintenance schedules, energy demand, interest rates, transmission and distribution AR adjustments, reconciliation of actual BST in previous periods, and government policies to develop, CEB said. “Based on the above analysis, a deficit of LKR 13,094 million has been estimated for the period from January to March 2026…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has sold 1,000 million rupees of treasury bills offered on tap at an average rate of 8.45 percent, the public debt management office said, bringing the total of bills sold this week to 58.39 billion rupees. The debt office sold 12-month bills at 8.45 percent. On Wednesday (31) the debt office raised 58.39 billion rupees of 3, 6 and 12 month bills. Read more Sri Lanka Treasury auction yields rise, 6-month up 32bp Settlement date is January 2. (Colombo/Jan2/2026)
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has sold 2,500 million rupees of bonds offered on tap at an average rate set at an auction this week, bringing the total of bonds sold in the week to 45.68 billion, data from the Ministry of Finance – Public Debt Management Office showed. The debt office sold a 01 July 2037 maturity bond (LKB01237G019) at a weighted average yield rate of 10.90 percent. On Tuesday, 43.18 billion rupees in 2030 and 2037 bonds were sold. Read more Sri Lanka sells Rs43.18bn in 2030 and 2037 bonds Total market subscription was 3,416 million rupees. Settlement date…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee was trading at 309.75/85 to the US dollar in the spot market on Friday, weaker from 309.45/60 the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields extended recovery for the second consecutive day. The rupee opened at 309.30/60 before trending down, dealers said. The rupee has weakened from 293.25/75 to the US dollar last year, amid record current account surpluses and improvement in budget, denying the usual scapegoats macro-economists point to after depreciating currencies. A bond maturing on 15.02.2028 was quoted at 9.00/05 percent, down from 9.00/10 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2028 was quoted at…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s current foreign exchange inflows from exports, remittances and gross services exceeded imports by 504 million US dollars in November 2025, official data shows. Sri Lanka’s exports were 1,047 million US dollars in November, down from 1,149 in October. Remittances also fell to 673 million US dollars in November from 712 million in October. Gross services were 560 million dollars, up from 495 million dollars. Services included tourism revenues of 251 million US dollars. Services outflows were 290 million US dollars with travel abroad estimated at 97.8 million US dollars up from 49 million in October. Total…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka customs had collected 2,551 billion rupees in revenues in 2025, higher than a revised target of 2,241 billion rupees for the year, but December collections were less than estimated, official data show. The Customs collected 276.7 billion rupees revenue in December, 16.4 percent less than its estimate of 331 billion for that month, the data showed. The actual revenue was 14.3 percent or 320 billion rupees higher than the revised up target of 2,231 billion rupees 2025. The Customs has achieved 64.2 percent higher revenue that the last year’s 1,553 million rupees. It missed the monthly…
The Director General of the National Institute of Education (NIE), Prof. Manjula Vithanapathirana, has decided to temporarily step down from her position pending the outcome of an inquiry into the controversial Grade 6 English learning module. Education sector sources said the decision was taken to facilitate an independent investigation into concerns raised over the inclusion of an inappropriate web reference in supplementary teaching material prepared by the NIE. Subsequent checks by authorities confirmed that the incorrect reference redirected users to a website catering to a gay audience. In response, the Ministry of Education has launched an internal inquiry into the…
A shooting incident was reported in the Korathota Manikagara Road area in Nawagamuwa at around 10.00 p.m. (1), police said. The shooting targeted three men, according to police. One person was killed in the incident, while the other two sustained injuries and were admitted to the Homagama Hospital. Further investigations are being carried out by the Nawagamuwa Police. (Newswire) The post 1 killed, 2 injured in shooting incident appeared first on Newswire.
Tickets for the upcoming Sri Lanka vs Pakistan T20 International series in Dambulla are now on sale. The three-match T20I series will be played as part of Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka in January 2026, with all matches scheduled to be held under lights in Dambulla. The series will begin on January 7, followed by the second T20I on January 9 and the final match on January 11. All three games are set to start at 7.00 pm IST. Sri Lanka Cricket said tickets can be purchased online through its official ticketing platform, allowing fans to secure seats in advance…
Sri Lanka’s Education Ministry has decided not to extend school hours during the 2026 academic year, citing disruptions caused by recent disaster conditions and damage to school and transport systems in several provinces. The ministry said school hours for Grades 5 to 13 will remain unchanged from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. until the education and transport systems return to normal. Government schools, government-approved private schools and pirivenas are scheduled to begin the first term of 2026 on Jan. 5. Under the revised academic structure, students from Grades 6 to 13 will have seven periods per day, with each period…
Sri Lanka’s Laugfs LP Gas has increased domestic cooking gas refill prices with effect from Jan. 1, 2026, the company said. Under the revised pricing, the 12.5-kilogram LP gas cylinder has been increased by Rs. 150 to Rs. 4,250, while the 5-kilogram cylinder has gone up by Rs. 65 to Rs. 1,710. The price revision applies to domestic LP gas refills sold by Laugfs Gas PLC nationwide from the beginning of the new year. (Newswire) The post Laugfs Gas price increased appeared first on Newswire.
Sri Lanka Police have sought public assistance to identify a suspect linked to a shooting incident in the Kohuwala area that left one person critically injured. Police said the incident occurred on Dec. 30, 2025, in the Godiyawatta area within the Kohuwala police division, where two unidentified individuals arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire at a victim. The injured person sustained serious gunshot wounds and was admitted to hospital, police said, adding that further investigations are ongoing. As part of the inquiry, police have identified one suspect and prepared a facial sketch with the assistance of a police artist.…
A consignment of intoxicants including heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine (ICE) was seized and three suspects arrested by the Colombo Division Crimes Investigation Unit during a raid in Slave Island the area.
Despite a significant increase in coconut production last year, coconut prices in the local market have risen to unusually high levels, surprising even the Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB).
Sri Lanka’s import expenditure rose sharply in November, 2025 with an increase in goods imports by 18.9%, driven largely by vehicle imports, widening the trade deficit, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) said.
Zohran Mamdani was sworn in just before midnight on Jan. 1 as New York City mayor, becoming the first Muslim and South Asian to lead the US largest city after taking the oath of office on the Quran.
A Police Constable and a Civil Security Constable on traffic duty in the Ambalantota town were knocked down by a motorcar when they signalled to halt and had fled the scene.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has urged the government to ensure that all relief promised to those affected by Cyclone Ditwa is delivered without delay, even as the country marks the New Year. Speaking at an event held under the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s ‘Husma’ programme, Premadasa said it was important not to forget the silent majority who continue to suffer due to deaths, displacement, unemployment and hardship caused by the recent disaster. He made these remarks while donating hospital equipment worth Rs. 2.8 million to the Karawanella Base Hospital, including five patient monitors, a syringe pump and an infusion pump. The…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s total imports fell to 1,779 million dollars in November 2025, from a high of 2,157 in October, official data show, as personal vehicle imports picked up in the month. Personal vehicle imports grew to 227.6 million dollars in November, up from 205.6 million a month earlier. By November Sri Lanka had imported 1,365.8 million dollars’ worth personal vehicles. In December, car dealers said sales had plunged after Cyclone Ditwah. The central bank also tightened loan-to-value ratios. (Colombo/Jan01/2026)