Sri Lanka’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector — widely recognized as the backbone of the national economy — is currently facing one of the most challenging periods in recent history. Over the past few years, SMEs have endured a series of major shocks that have disrupted businesses, weakened financial stability, and threatened thousands of livelihoods across the country.

The sector first experienced a significant setback following the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, which severely affected tourism, trade, and investor confidence.

Soon after, the global COVID-19 pandemic brought prolonged lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, and a sharp decline in consumer demand.

As businesses attempted to recover, the country faced further instability during the Aragalaya period, followed by the severe national economic crisis, which resulted in shortages, escalating costs, and limited access to finance.

Natural disasters such as Cyclone Dithwa added further pressure, while the ongoing tensions in the Middle East continue to create uncertainty for trade and remittance flows.

These successive crises have taken a heavy toll on SMEs. The sector contributions have comedown to nearly 52% of Sri Lanka’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides employment for over 45% of the national workforce, making its stability crucial for the country’s economic recovery.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries (SLCSMI) has stepped forward to support the sector by engaging directly with industrialists and SME entrepreneurs. The Chamber plans to listen to their concerns, understand the challenges faced at ground level, and connect them with relevant authorities to identify practical solutions.

As part of this initiative, the Chamber will organize a Special SME Forum towards the end of this month, creating a platform for entrepreneurs to discuss issues related to finance, regulations, market access, and operational challenges.

SME owners and industrialists across the country are strongly encouraged to participate in this important forum and take advantage of the opportunity to engage directly with industry leaders and policymakers.

Those interested in attending are requested to register with the following details by E-mail to :slcmi@sltnet.lk or whats App to: 0774586940, on or before the 20th of March 2026.

• Name

• Contact Number

• Business Address

• Industry Sector

By coming forward and voicing their concerns collectively, SMEs will be able to seek meaningful solutions and contribute to rebuilding confidence and resilience in Sri Lanka’s vital enterprise sector.

The Chamber believes that reviving SMEs is essential for national economic recovery, and the success of this initiative will depend on the active participation of the country’s entrepreneurs.

CSE trading registered a marked decline yesterday after opening, as global oil prices jumped over 20 percent, topping US $100 a barrel amid the war in West Asia, market analysts said.

The All Share Price Index went down by 722.8 points, while the S and P SL20 declined by 216.02 points. Turnover stood at Rs 5.8 billion with five crossings. Those crossings were reported in Commercial Bank where 1.75 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 359 million; its shares traded at Rs 205.50, ACL Cables 673,000 shares crossed for Rs 63.26 million; its shares traded at Rs 94, Colombo Dockyard 200,000 shares crossed for Rs 28 million; its shares sold at Rs 140, HNB (Non-Voting) 57000 shares crossed for Rs 20 million; its shares traded at Rs 352 and JKH one million shares crossed for Rs 20 million; its shares sold at Rs 20.

In the retail market top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Sampath Bank Rs 576.6 million (3.8 million shares traded), Commercial Bank Rs 360 million (1.7 million shares traded) Lanka IOC Rs 236 million (1.56 million shares traded), JKH Rs 216.9 million (10.8 million shares traded), LMF Rs 190 million (2.2 million shares traded), ACL Cables Rs 182 million (1.9 million shares traded) and Prime Lands Residencies Rs 182 million (3.5 million shares traded). During the day 197.7 million shares volumes changed hands in 55597 transactions.

It is said that banking sector counters, especially Commercial Bank and Sampath Bank, led the market while for the manufacturing sector, especially JKH and ACL Cables, performed well.

Further, the real estate sector and petroleum sector counters also significantly performed at the floor.

Yesterday the rupee was quoted at Rs 311.50/312.00 to the US dollar in the spot market, significantly weaker than Friday’s close of Rs 311.00/20, dealers said, while bond yields opened higher in a knee-jerk reaction to oil prices, hiking over 20 percent and exceeding over 100 dollars a barrel.

A bond maturing on 15.06.2029 was quoted at 9.45/55 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.03.2031 was quoted at 9.90/10.10 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.10.2032 was quoted at 10.35/50 percent, up from 10.22/28 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.06.2033 was quoted at 10.60/70 percent, up from 10.48/52 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.06.2034 was quoted at 10.70/90 percent, up from 10.65/75 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.06.2035 was quoted at 10.85/11.00 percent, up from 10.76/80 percent.

By Hiran H Senewiratne

In a significant step towards enhancing digital convenience in the education sector, LB CIM, the flagship digital payments platform powered by LB Finance PLC, has officially partnered with Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT). The agreement signing, held recently, marks a strategic collaboration aimed at simplifying how students and parents manage course fee payments.

Through this partnership, SLIIT students can now conveniently settle their course fees via the LB CIM App, offering a faster, more secure, and highly accessible alternative to traditional payment methods. The integration reflects a shared commitment by both institutions to leverage digital innovation in enhancing user experience and financial accessibility within the higher education landscape.

The collaboration underscores the growing importance of digital financial solutions in everyday life. By enabling seamless in-app transactions, LB CIM eliminates common

payment challenges such as time constraints, physical queues, and limited payment channels — delivering a friction-less experience tailored to the needs of modern students and parents.

Commenting on the partnership, representatives from both organizations highlighted that the initiative not only strengthens digital payment adoption but also supports students in focusing on their academic journey without administrative inconveniences.

The solution is built on secure infrastructure and user-friendly functionality, ensuring reliability and peace of mind for all users.

This milestone further reinforces LB CIM’s vision of empowering the next generation through smart financial tools while expanding its ecosystem of digital partnerships across key sectors. For SLIIT, the collaboration aligns with its continuous efforts to enhance student services through technology-driven solutions.

As digital transformation accelerates across Sri Lanka, partnerships such as this demonstrate how fin-tech and education can work together to create meaningful

impact — delivering convenience, efficiency, and accessibility to thousands of students islandwide.