Business

War in Middle East sends shockwaves through Sri Lanka’s export sector

Published

4 months ago

2026/03/4

Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka’s export sector is bracing for fresh turbulence as the escalating conflict involving Iran and parts of the Middle East begins to send shockwaves through global trade, shipping and energy markets.

Though geographically distant from the conflict zone, Sri Lanka’s exporters are far from insulated. Industry leaders warn that higher freight costs, rising oil prices and increased trade risks could erode margins and disrupt key markets if hostilities intensify.

President of the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka, Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa told The Island Financial Review that the situation is being closely monitored, as the export community is already feeling the early tremors of global instability.

“Sri Lanka may not be directly involved in the conflict, but we are deeply integrated into global supply chains. Any disruption in the Middle East immediately translates into higher costs and operational uncertainty for our exporters,” Rajapaksa said.

A major concern is the vulnerability of critical maritime corridors such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, through which a significant share of global trade and oil shipments pass. Shipping lines have begun rerouting vessels and imposing emergency risk surcharges amid mounting security threats, while insurers are reassessing risk exposure in the region.

“Freight costs had only recently begun stabilising after the pandemic-era disruptions. Now, with vessels avoiding high-risk zones and insurers raising premiums, exporters are once again facing unpredictable shipping expenses,” he noted.

For time-sensitive exports such as apparel and perishables, delays could undermine Sri Lanka’s hard-earned reputation for reliability in competitive markets.

Exporters fear that prolonged instability could trigger sustained freight rate hikes similar to those witnessed during previous global disruptions.

The conflict has also driven global oil prices upward on fears of supply disruptions and shipping bottlenecks. Given that the Middle East accounts for a substantial share of global crude oil output, even perceived threats to supply have immediate price implications.

For Sri Lankan exporters, higher oil prices translate directly into increased fuel, electricity and transportation costs. Manufacturing sectors such as apparel, rubber products, plastics and food processing are particularly vulnerable, as energy forms a core input cost across operations.

“Energy is a fundamental cost component in nearly all export industries. When global oil prices rise, the impact cascades through logistics, production and even raw material pricing,” Rajapaksa explained, warning that sustained high energy costs could squeeze already thin margins.

Beyond cost pressures, the Middle East remains a crucial destination for Sri Lankan exports, especially tea and food products. Around 25 percent of Sri Lanka’s tea exports are shipped to Middle Eastern markets, making the region strategically important for the plantation sector.

“The Middle East is not just a transit route; it is a major market. If economic activity slows in those countries, or if banking and payment channels become complicated due to the conflict, our exporters will face direct consequences,” he cautioned.

War conditions also elevate trade finance and insurance risks. Cargo insurance premiums are climbing, and banks may adopt a more cautious stance toward trade credit involving affected regions.

Exporters could face payment delays, tighter financing conditions and higher compliance requirements, raising the overall cost and complexity of doing business.

This comes at a sensitive time for Sri Lanka’s economy, which is navigating recovery. Higher global oil prices would widen the import bill, potentially exerting pressure on the rupee and fuelling domestic inflation. While currency depreciation can sometimes enhance export competitiveness, rising input costs may offset any exchange rate advantage.

Despite the challenges, he pointed to potential opportunities if Sri Lanka responds strategically. As global buyers seek to diversify supply chains away from unstable regions, Sri Lanka could position itself as a reliable sourcing hub for apparel, rubber-based products, processed foods and value-added agricultural goods.

“In every global disruption there are risks, but there are also opportunities. If Sri Lanka strengthens trade facilitation, improves logistics efficiency and ensures policy consistency, we can attract buyers looking for stable alternatives,” he said.

He stressed that resilience and preparedness would be critical in the weeks ahead, as exporters closely watch developments in the Middle East and global energy markets, aware that distant conflicts can swiftly reshape local economic realities.

By Ifham Nizam

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Business

Sri Lanka’s first generative AI‑powered, trilingual insurance assistant

Published

2 hours ago

2026/07/10

Thilina Walpola

Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General Limited (SLICGL) unveiled Beechat, the country’s first generative AI‑powered insurance assistant, heralding a milestone for Sri Lanka’s insurance industry and move towards digital services.

Beechat is designed to transform the customer experience. Available through the SLICGL website (https://www.slicgeneral.com/) and customer portal, the Assistant offers customers instant access to policy information, real-time claim status updates, and insurance-related help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For customers, Beechat makes insurance simpler and always available. Instead of waiting in queues, calling hotlines, or being limited to business hours, customers can check policies, track claims, and receive instant answers in Sinhala, Tamil, or English, empowering every customer, whatever their language, to manage their insurance with ease.

The inclusivity ensures every customer, regardless of language preference, can engage with insurance services seamlessly. The AI‑driven platform reduces complexity, eliminates delays, and builds trust. Ultimately, Beechat transforms insurance from a process often seen as slow and complicated into a smooth digital journey that fits modern lifestyles.

The launch of SLICGL Beechat is strategically important for the organization because it strengthens its position as a leader in innovation within Sri Lanka’s insurance industry. Introducing the country’s first generative AI‑powered, trilingual insurance assistant, SLICGL demonstrates a commitment to digital transformation and technology‑driven service excellence.

The initiative reaffirms the company as forward‑thinking and customer‑centric and differentiating from competitors who still rely on traditional service models. It signals to industry stakeholders that SLICGL is setting new standards for accessibility, efficiency, and convenience in insurance.

Pioneering AI‑driven customer engagement, the company sets a new benchmark. Beechat demonstrates how technology can elevate insurance from a traditional service into a dynamic, futuristic experience, strengthening SLICGL’s relationship with the people it services. (SLICGL)

Business

‘Lanka Tractors returns with a historic Colombo 11 showroom’

Published

2 hours ago

2026/07/10

Thilina Walpola

Lanka Tractors Limited officially reopened its original showroom in Colombo 11, marking the return of one of Sri Lanka’s most recognised agricultural machinery companies and the official launch of the ACE Tractor brand in the country.

Located at 343 Olcott Mawatha, Colombo 11, the showroom was ceremonially declared open by Chief Guest Dudley Sirisena, Chairman of the Araliya Group of Companies, in the presence of Upul Jayasuriya, Chairman of Lanka Tractors Limited, Thilina Abeysuriya, Managing Director, Nishantha Yapa, Head of Business, and Rajiv Gunawardena, CEO of Asia Asset Finance PLC.

Originally established in 1971 as the State Trading (Tractor) Corporation, Lanka Tractors was restructured in 1991 and became one of Sri Lanka’s largest importers and distributors of agricultural machinery. Over the decades, the company represented internationally renowned brands including Massey Ferguson, Kubota and TAFE, earning the trust of generations of Sri Lankan farmers through quality products, technical expertise and dependable after-sales support. The reopening of its original Colombo 11 showroom, first established in 1982, marks the revival of an institution that has played a pivotal role in the mechanisation of Sri Lankan agriculture for more than five decades.

The company’s revival commenced in late 2025 through an exclusive partnership with ACE Tractors, the agricultural division of Action Construction Equipment (ACE) Limited, one of India’s leading engineering and manufacturing companies. ACE manufactures tractors, agricultural machinery, construction equipment and industrial equipment, with annual production capacity exceeding 9,000 tractors, exports to more than 37 countries, and a dealer and service network spanning over 100 locations worldwide.

Prior to the commercial launch, Lanka Tractors adopted an extensive validation programme to ensure the products were ideally suited to Sri Lankan farming conditions. Three introductory models—the ACE VEER 3000 (26 HP 4WD), ACE DI 350 NG (40 HP 2WD) and ACE DI 450 NG (45 HP 4WD)—underwent rigorous field testing across multiple agricultural regions under the supervision of ACE technical specialists. Following several product refinements based on local operating conditions, the tractors were introduced to the market in April 2026.

Business

Akurugraphy exhibition opens at Geoffrey Bawa Space in Colombo

Published

2 hours ago

2026/07/10

Thilina Walpola

The desire to communicate and be understood is at the heart of what it is to be human. In contemporary life, digital infrastructure underpins how we work, live, and share information, but the letterforms that carry our languages are rarely neutral.

Arkurugraphy, a new exhibition at the Geoffrey Bawa Space, explores the history, culture, and future of letterforms across Sri Lanka’s three official languages. Presenting the decade-long practice of Colombo-based type foundry Mooniak, it examines how decisions about the digitisation of Sinhala, Tamil, and Latin scripts impact legibility and carry deep consequences for who is seen, who is heard, and whose language endures.

Writing systems carry human thought and knowledge across time and space. Letterforms can become a form of cultural artefact, unique graphic symbols representing identity and belonging. Today, these inherited letterforms often take shape as digital fonts, their design demanding fluency across history, aesthetics, linguistics, and technical standards. Akurugraphy asks audiences to look at letterforms beyond the act of reading: to appreciate their form, trace their past, and consider the decisions that impact their future.

Akurugraphy brings together typographic specimens, archival material, and software development spanning Mooniak’s full body of practice. It is a celebration of letterforms as art and an examination of the technical and political stakes of designing scripts for the digital age. As part of the exhibition, the Geoffrey Bawa Space will host a programme of monthly talks, curatorial tours, workshops, and children’s programmes.

Akurugraphy is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., and will be on view until 8 November 2026. The exhibition is designed to be accessible and welcoming to all visitors. The Geoffrey Bawa Space offers step-free access and wheelchair accessible facilities. Tactile elements are available throughout the exhibition. More information is available at geoffreybawa.com/akurugraphy .