Culture

Cricket-Herath hat-trick wrecks Australia, Sri Lanka sense victory

Saturday August 6, 2016 7:03 am

Aug 5 (Reuters) – Rangana Herath claimed his maiden test hat-trick as 21 wickets tumbled on a frantic second day with hosts Sri Lanka closing in on a series-clinching victory against Australia in the second test in Galle on Friday.

The dramatic day began with Australia resuming on 54-2 before being 106 all out to concede a 175-run first innings lead.

Three Sri Lankan batsmen were also dismissed in the 11-wicket morning session but the hosts recovered to post 237 all out, setting Australia a daunting 413-run victory target to stay alive in the three-test series.

Australia’s struggle against spin was obvious in the second innings as well as the tourists slumped to 25-3 at stumps.

David Warner was batting on 22 at the break, while skipper Steve Smith was on one after coming out to bat for the second time in the day with Australia staring at an embarrassing defeat inside three days.

Herath had tormented Australia in the first test at Pallekele, exposing their vulnerability against spin bowling and claiming nine wickets in Sri Lanka’s 106-run victory.

The 38-year-old left-arm spinner haunted them again on Friday, castling Smith for five runs with the first delivery of his third over.

He ripped the heart out of Australia’s batting in his seventh over, getting Adam Voges caught at extra cover with his fourth delivery and trapping Peter Nevill plumb in front with an arm ball.

He struck Mitchell Starc’s pad with his next delivery and home captain Angelo Mathews successfully reviewed the original not-out decision as Herath (4-35) became only the second Sri Lankan cricketer to get a test hat-trick.

Former paceman Nuwan Zoysa was the first Sri Lankan to achieve the feat, against Zimbabwe in a 1999 match in Harare.

Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera polished off the tail to finish with 4-29 as Australia folded inside 34 overs.

Sri Lanka got off to a shaky start and, for the second time in the match, Kusal Mendis walked out to bat with his team reeling at nine for two.

The architect of Sri Lanka’s Pallekele win and their top-scorer in the first innings, however, made only seven runs before Starc (6-50) sent him back.

The left-arm paceman claimed a match haul of 11 wickets but a half-century from Dilruwan Perera (64) and handy knocks from Kusal Perera (35), Mathews (47) and Dhananjaya de Silva

Markets

Sri Lanka stocks trend up, ASPI gains 0.60-pct

Friday October 16, 2026 10:36 am

ECONOMYNEXT — Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange opened up on Friday, CSE data showed, with the benchmark All Share Price Index moving up 0.60 percent.

The ASPI was up 119.48 points at 20,090.63, while the more liquid S&P SL20 was up 0.63 percent, or 36.09 points, at 5,735.11.

Positive contributors to the ASPI were Dialog Axiata (up 3.29 percent at 43.90 rupees), Commercial Bank of Ceylon (up 0.51 percent at 199.00 rupees), Sri Lanka Telecom (up 4.54 percent at 82.90 rupees), and Sampath Bank (up 1.45 percent at 140.00 rupees).

Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka (down 1.57 percent at 50.00 rupees), Ambeon Holdings (down 3.98 percent at 31.40 rupees), Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) (down 2.28 percent at 72.80 rupees), Singer (Sri Lanka) (down 0.56 percent at 70.60 rupees), and Ceylon Tobacco Company (down 0.56 percent at 1,768.00 rupees) were top negative contributors.

Market turnover was 170.32 million rupees. Capital goods led turnover with 36.64 million rupees. (Colombo/Oct16/2026)

Bonds & Forex

Sri Lanka rupee at 331.15/25 to US dollar spot, bond yields steady

Friday October 16, 2026 9:52 am

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee was quoted flat at 331.15/25 to the US dollar in the spot market on Friday, while bond yields were steady, dealers said.

A bond maturing on 15.10.2028 was quoted flat at 10.60/70 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.06.2029 was quoted at 10.95/11.05 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.10.2030 was quoted at 11.41/45 percent, up from 11.40/45 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.12.2031 was quoted at 11.65/73 percent, up from 11.65/70 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.12.2032 was quoted at 11.75/90 percent, up from 11.75/85 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.01.2033 was quoted at 11.85/95 percent, up from 11.95/12.00 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.10.2034 was quoted flat at 12.20/30 percent.

The telegraphic transfer rate for the dollar was 326.70 buying, 335.70 selling; the euro was 363.6850 buying, 377.4658 selling; pound was 432.5942 buying, 446.7026 selling.

On the Colombo Stock Exchange the All Share Price Index was up 0.56 percent, or 111.97 points, at 20,083; while the S&P SL20 was up 0.63 percent, 35.68 points, at 5,734. (Colombo/Oct16/2026)

Economy

Sri Lanka services expands at slower rate in September 2026: PMI

Thursday October 15, 2026 6:14 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s services sector expanded at a slower rate in September 2026, according to a Purchasing Managers Index compiled by the central bank, which registered an index value of 60.5, compared to 65.6 the previous month.

“Business Activity increased in September 2026, reflecting improvements across several sub-sectors, led by financial services, with notable contributions from education and professional services,” CBSL said.

New businesses increased in September 2026, registering 60.9 from August’s 60.0, due to the expansion in the financial services, with positive contributions from the insurance, education, professional, and other personal services sub-sectors.

Employment increased in September, “as firms across several sectors increased recruitment to meet operational needs and support business expansion”.

Backlogs of Work declined in the month, although at a slower rate compared to the previous month.

Broader global economic uncertainties continued to pose downside risks to the outlook, CBSL said. (Colombo/Oct15/2026)

Economy

Sri Lanka manufacturing PMI steady at 53.0 in September, growth continues

Thursday October 15, 2026 6:05 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s manufacturing sector expanded at a steady rate in September 2026, registering a value of 53.0 on a Purchasing Managers Index compiled by the central bank, same as the previous month.

“This indicates that manufacturing activities continued to expand at a similar pace during the month,” CBSL said, noting the outlook remains positive, driven largely by optimism on year-end seasonal demand.

The New Orders sub-index expanded in the month, registering 51.0, attributed to positive developments in both the food and beverages and textiles and wearing apparel manufacturing sectors.

The Production sub-index also registered 51.0, for the same reason.

The Employment sub-index expanded at a slower pace, registering 52.6, from the previous 54.8.

The Stock of Purchases sub-index moderated towards the neutral threshold, “indicating broadly unchanged inventory levels during the month,” CBSL said.

Suppliers’ Delivery Times sub-index remained lengthened in September. (Colombo/Oct15/2026)

Bonds & Forex

Sri Lanka rupee closes at 331.15/25 to US dollar spot, bond yields steady

Thursday October 15, 2026 6:00 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee closed flat at 331.15/25 to the US dollar in the spot market on Thursday, while bond yields closed steady, dealers said.

A bond maturing on 01.08.2030 closed flat at 11.35/40 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.10.2030 closed at 11.40/45 percent, up from 11.37/43 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.02.2031 closed flat at 11.45/50 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.12.2032 closed flat at 11.75/85 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.10.2034 closed at 12.20/30 percent, up from 12.12/20 percent. (Colombo/Oct15/2026)

Bonds & Forex

Sri Lanka’s Sampath Bank to raise Rs10bn in debenture sale

Thursday October 15, 2026 5:47 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Sampath Bank plans to raise 10 billion rupees through the issuance of Basel III-compliant debentures, it said in a market filing.

Up to 100 million listed, rated, unsecured, subordinated, redeemable 5-year (2026/ 2031) and 7-year (2026/ 2033) instruments will be offered at 100 rupees each.

The proposed instruments will carry a non-viability conversion feature, the company said.

Initially 70 million debentures will be issued, and another 30 million in the event of an oversubscription of the initial issue.

Fitch rates Sri Lanka Sampath Bank’s Rs10bn debenture issue A(lka)

The issue has received CSE approval.

The subscriptions list opens on October 20. (Colombo/Oct15/2026)