ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to enter into an agreement with the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) to secure a 60 million US dollar loan facility for Phase 2 of the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program (MWSIP).

The total estimated cost for Phase 2 of the program is 536.5 million dollars, which the government plans to finance through co-financing arrangements with multiple development partners. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has already agreed to provide 200 million dollars toward the program.

“Phase 2 of the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program is planned for implementation to achieve the Government’s long-term objectives: enhancing food security in the Dry Zone, strengthening water resource management, improving resilience to climate change, and alleviating poverty,” Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.

Following prior cabinet approval on July 20, 2026, to begin negotiations with OFID, the development fund confirmed its willingness to provide the 60 million dollar facility in two components of 48 million dollars and 12 million dollars.

The proposal was submitted by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development.

Under Phase 2, key construction works include finishing the remaining section of the main tunnel with about seven kilometers of excavation, constructing 68 kilometers of open and covered canals, conduits, and short tunnels, and building an eight-kilometer canal section for the Ellapothana Irrigation Project.

The project will also establish commercial farming infrastructure, including around 13 pressurized distribution networks to supply reliable irrigation water for high-value and field crops.

The cabinet paper noted that the phase will also focus on:

“Transforming agricultural production systems by introducing climate-resilient value chains and expanding farmers’ access to financial services and agricultural project-related services.” (Colombo/Oct27/2026)

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 332.40/50 to the US dollar in the spot market on Tuesday, weaker from 332.25/35 the previous day, while bond yields closed slightly higher, dealers said.

A bond maturing on 15.09.2029 closed flat at 11.08/15 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.08.2030 closed at 11.55/60 percent, up from 11.45/55 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.02.2031 closed at 11.75/80 percent, up from 11.70/75 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.12.2031 closed at 11.85/95 percent, up from 11.80/90 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.01.2033 closed at 12.15/30 percent, up from 12.15/25 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.10.2034 closed at 12.5/60 percent, up from 12.45/55 percent. (Colombo/Oct27/2026)

ECONOMYNEXT — Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a new performance- and sustainability-based framework for collective agreements in State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), which will take effect from January 1, 2027, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.

The decision follows an earlier cabinet decision when the government decided to extend existing collective agreements in state enterprises under their current terms and conditions until December 31, 2026, while preparing a revised structure for 2027.

To facilitate the transition, the Secretary to the Treasury appointed an expert committee tasked with reviewing the current collective agreement mechanism and formulating the new framework.

Following consultations with relevant stakeholders, the committee submitted its report.

According to Jayatissa, the expert committee recommended aligning workplace pacts with key statutory regulations:

“It is recommended that collective agreements be implemented within state-owned enterprises, subject to the Industrial Disputes Act, the Trade Unions Ordinance, the Shop and Office Employees Act, and other relevant labour laws.”

The new structure also addresses employee incentives and financial returns.

“Recommendations have also been put forward regarding a framework for profit-sharing and bonuses.” (Colombo/Oct27/2026)

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved a proposal to award a road improvement contract to cover an additional section of roadway in the Central Province to Asset Engineering (Pvt) Limited, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.

The contract is valued at about 756.9 million rupees (excluding taxes).

The project will upgrade the road from kilometre 10+500 to kilometre 16+890 on the Norwood-Bogawanthalawa-Campion (B329) route.

Bids were called and 3 bids were received, Jayatissa said. (Colombo/Oct27/2026)

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved the long-term leasing of 15 state plantation properties to selected local investors, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.

The assets are owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantations Corporation, the Janatha Estates Development Board and Elkaduwa Plantations Company.

The government had earlier called for expressions of interest from investors for 1,514 hectares of land, 10 tourist bungalows and scenic locations, and 15 inactive factories managed by the three plantation entities.

A total of 470 investors submitted expressions of interest, Jayatissa said, after which shortlisted applicants were invited to submit detailed proposals.

“The government received 44 proposals covering 50 land and property lots.”

“Cabinet approved the proposal to lease 15 selected land and property plots to investors on a long-term basis.”

The government expects the initiative to attract private investment and improve the utilization of underused plantation-sector assets, he said.

He did not respond to reporters’ questions on how long the lease periods are, or how much the government hopes to raise through the leasing, or if the lands and properties will be distributed among parties loyal to the government.

Historically, most lands under the SLSPC and JEDB originated from the 1972 and 1975 land reform laws, when large privately owned plantations were taken over by the state. Many tea, rubber and coconut estates were nationalized and later placed under state plantation entities. (Colombo/Oct27/2026)

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved a 100 million US dollar loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank to support a macro-recovery programme aimed at strengthening economic resilience and expanding inclusive economic opportunities, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.

The financing forms part of a larger 620 million US dollar policy-based lending package approved earlier to support Sri Lanka’s reform agenda under the International Monetary Fund’s Extended Fund Facility programme.

The latest tranche consists of a 50 million US dollar policy-based loan and a 50 million US dollar investment loan from the ADB’s ordinary capital resources.

The Department of External Resources has completed formal loan negotiations with the ADB, after which Cabinet approved a proposal submitted by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as Finance Minister to sign the agreement, Jayatssa said.

The Macro-Recovery Sector Development Programme was approved by Cabinet in September 2026 using part of the broader ADB funding package and is intended to support reforms designed to improve economic stability, resilience and inclusive growth. (Colombo/Oct27/2026)