Business
Share market surpasses highest intra-day gain of 100 points
By Hiran H.Senewiratne
The CSE strongly bounced back yesterday with the ending of the volatility in the market, surpassing the highest intra-day gain of 100 points. Investors believe that the IMF agreement would be signed before the end of the year due to positive developments, stock market analysts said.Accordingly, shares gained over 1.5 per cent in mid-day trade pushed by foreign buying in the market, “because foreign buying has triggered local buying as well, but it’s on very thin volumes on mixed investments, an analyst said.
In the previous session, the market saw over a Rs 1 billion foreign outflow, the worst in more than 1-year, as an offshore fund sold shares in top private lender Commercial Bank. But yesterday the turnover touched just below the Rs 1 billion market, which needs to improve with the bouncing back of the market, market analysts said.
Amid those developments both indices moved upwards. The All- Share Price Index went up by 96.4 points and S and P SL20 rose by 19.4 points. Turnover stood at Rs 862 million with a single crossing. The crossing was reported in Aitken Spence, which crossed 236,000 shares to the tune of Rs 31.1 million and its shares traded at Rs 132.
In the retail market, top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were, Lanka IOC Rs 158 million (871,000 shares traded), ACL Cables Rs 55.2 million (721,000 shares traded), Lankem Development Rs 38.9 million (1.2 million shares traded), Browns Investments Rs 38.7 million (6.6 million shares traded), JKH Rs 36.3 million (262,000 shares traded), Agsta Rs 34.6 million (1.8 million shares traded) and Expolanka Holdings Rs 33.4 million (216,000 shares traded). During the day 36.2 million share volumes changed hands in 15000 transactions.
During the day mixed interest was observed in Lanka IOC, ACL Cables and Ex-pack Corrugated Cartons, while retail interest was noted in Browns Investments, SMB leasing and Agsta.
Analysts said the outflow was due to the country’s vulnerable banking sector outlook.The Capital Goods sector was the second highest contributor to the market turnover (due to JKH), while the sector index increased by 1.73 per cent. The share price of JKH gained Rs. 4.25 (3.14 per cent) to close at Rs. 139.75.
But overall the market has been on a falling trend as investors awaited cues on policies from the 2023 budget, which is scheduled to be presented next week amid panic- selling from time to time.Yesterday, the Central Bank- announced daily US dollar buying rate was Rs 360.96 and the selling rate Rs 371.75. The inflation rate is 73.70 per cent.
Business
SLT-MOBITEL driving Sri Lanka’s economic resilience through digital infrastructure
Corporate accolades underscore the alignment between its operational excellence and national development
In an era where national competitiveness is intrinsically tied to digital connectivity, strengthening the country’s digital backbone has become an urgent priority. Within this context, the evolving role of Sri Lanka’s leading telecommunications provider, SLT-MOBITEL, offers valuable insight into how technological infrastructure can underpin broader economic resilience.
Telecommunications and digital networks are foundational to economic transformation. By expanding high-speed broadband access, upgrading enterprise cloud capabilities, and bridging the urban-rural connectivity divide, SLT-MOBITEL helps reduce business transaction costs, streamline supply chains, and enable micro, small, and medium enterprises to reach global markets.
Recent corporate accolades further underscore this alignment between operational excellence and national development. SLT-MOBITEL’s triple triumph at the National Business Excellence Awards 2026 – winning in the Infrastructure and Utilities sector, Performance Management, and ICT Services categories – highlights its growing impact. Notably, the recognition of eChannelling’s contributions to digital healthcare reflects a broader strategic pivot toward integrated technology solutions.
“Institutional efficiency of this nature is critical for attracting foreign direct investment, as global partners increasingly assess a country’s digital maturity and systemic stability before committing capital,” noted industry observers.
Moreover, the company’s transition from a conventional telecom utility to a comprehensive digital solutions provider aligns seamlessly with Sri Lanka’s national digitalisation agenda. As the country pursues public sector modernisation, enhanced e-governance, and a competitive knowledge economy, the private sector must step up to deliver secure, scalable, and future-ready networks. Investments in data centres, cybersecurity frameworks, and advanced ICT infrastructure act as strategic buffers, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s economic apparatus remains agile and resilient amid future global uncertainties.
However, industry experts caution that while these achievements are commendable, SLT-MOBITEL still has a considerable distance to cover in fully enabling a truly digital economy.
Business
Port City Colombo strengthens Gulf investment ties at Dubai diplomatic engagement
Port City Colombo (PCC) took a prominent role as Platinum Sponsor at the second edition of Sri Lanka Beyond Your Dreams, a high-level diplomatic and investment engagement hosted by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The event, held on 2nd September 2026 at the Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, brought together over 400 senior UAE-based business leaders, investors, diplomats, and institutional stakeholders, alongside Sri Lanka’s most senior government representatives.
The gathering was graced by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, as Guest of Honour, and Vijitha Herath, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. A high-level Sri Lankan delegation – including the Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Board of Investment, the Chairman of the Export Development Board, and the Director General of Commerce – underscored the government’s strong commitment to deepening economic diplomacy with the UAE.
In his keynote address, Minister Herath reaffirmed the centuries-old ties between Sri Lanka and the Arab region, emphasising the UAE’s vital role as a key economic partner. He stressed the urgency of finalising a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE, which would establish a robust framework to elevate trade, investment, and bilateral cooperation. Declaring Sri Lanka “open and ready for business,” he positioned Port City Colombo as the physical embodiment of this economic mission – a modern Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with a dedicated legal framework and competitive incentives, offering UAE investors a natural gateway to South Asia while maintaining strong Gulf connectivity.
Business
American Premium Water strikes Gold at Dragons of Sri Lanka 2026
American Premium Water has secured four wins at Dragons of Sri Lanka Awards 2026, including three Gold Dragons and one Black Dragon, marking a significant milestone for the brand following its relaunch last year.
Part of the prestigious Dragons of Asia awards, Dragons of Sri Lanka brings the program’s regional platform to the local market, celebrating creative and effective marketing communications, with entries evaluated on strategic thinking, creativity, execution and impact. Established in 2000, Dragons of Asia is one of Asia’s premier results-driven marketing awards programs.
For American Premium Water, the achievements are particularly significant given that the company’s debut at the Dragons awards has resulted in four Dragons across four categories. In the distinction of Gold Dragons, American Premium Water was recognized across three categories including Product Launch or Re Launch, Cause, Environment or Sustainability and Creative Excellence while the Black Dragon was awarded in recognition of Small Budget.
Competing alongside leading brands and agencies in Sri Lanka, American Premium Water’s four wins demonstrate the strength and effectiveness of its recent work. Winning three Gold Dragons across three distinct categories highlights the breadth of the brand’s achievements, while the Black Dragon for Small Budget further emphasizes its ability to create meaningful impact through focused and efficient investment.
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